Comment on a Draft Diplomatic Letter [I]
(27 November 1962)

Premier:
In recent days, some diplomatic documents have been somewhat improper in wording. This is one such case. I have made a few revisions [2]. Please review it again.
Mao
Morning of the 27th

[1]
Refers to the draft letter dated 27 November 1962 from Zhou Enlai, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, to Ne Win, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Revolutionary Government of the Union of Burma, drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[2]
When reviewing this draft letter, Mao Zedong changed “the just attitude you have adopted toward the peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary question … will also constitute a precious contribution to consolidating the unity of the Asian-African countries and safeguarding peace in Asia” by replacing “precious” with “beneficial”; changed “the formerly extremely perilous situation on the Sino-Indian border has already begun to show a turn for the better” by replacing “the formerly extremely perilous situation” with “the former situation” and “turn” with “easing”; in the sentence “action taken by China alone cannot yet completely and effectively prevent conflicts from not arising again, nor is it conducive to creating a favourable atmosphere for negotiations,” deleted “completely and effectively,” changed “prevent conflicts from not arising again” to “prevent the recurrence of conflicts,” and deleted “nor is it conducive to.”

1962, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai at the Great Hall of the People.