Understanding China Newsletter. Volume 9, Number 2. INSTITUTION American Friends Service Committee, Ann Arbor, Mich

DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 076 480 SO 005 842 AUTHOR Bennett, Louise B., Ed. TITLE Understanding China Newsletter. Volume 9, Number 2. INSTITUTION American Friends Service Committee, Ann Arbor, Mich. Understanding China Committee. PUB DATE Mar 73 NOTE 8p. AVAILABLE FROMProject on Asian Studies in Education, 300Lone Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104(no 11 price quoted)

ECRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS *Chinese Culture; *Foreign Countries; *Foreign Policy; Foreign Relations; *Newsletters; NonWestern Civilization; World Affairs IDENTIFIERS *China

ABSTRACT Published bi-monthly by the Understanding China Committee, the Newsletter aims to report and interpretwhat is happening in China; to evaluate developments in U.S. policy toward China; and to encourage United States and Chinese cooperation. Typical issues include an editorialpage and several essay-type articles concerning the People's Republic of Chinathat deal generally with social, economic, and political facts relevantto everday life in Ch.na and, more specifically, withMarxist and Maoist 11 philosophy, war and peace, and foreign policy. Past issuesprovided annotated bibliographies, book reviews,resources for teaching a course on China, and special reports by the editors. This issue includes articles on China's Third World policy; how theChinese drug problem was solved; study groups in China; andan American view on the factory conditions in China. Foran annual subscription a contribution of $3.00 or more is requested. A free samplecopy will be sent if a long, stamped, self-addressed envelope isenclosed with the request. (SJM) U S. OEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EOuCATiON & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION 7.7 THIS 00CuMENT HAS BEEN REPRO Pr 44 .7 OuCE0 ExACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG INATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN IONS STATED 00 NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF (Du CATION POSmON OR POLICy

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Vol. 9 Ann Arbor, Mich., March-April, 1973 No. 2

CHINA, THE THIRD WORLD, AND THE SUPERPOWERS

"China belongs to the Third World," Edward Friedman China as one of the more successfully de- announced China's central ruling group veloping poor nations may end up, like last June in honor of a meeting of for- certain successful labor leaders, as one of eign ministers of non-aligned countries. shouldalsoincrease trade with each the exploiters, as well as one of the ex- While the identification of radical Chi- other so as to decrease dependence on ploited. nese nationalism with the fate of other those who control ships, insurance, and Already Mao Tse-tung's foreign poli- poor peoples of the world goes back at commodity markets. cy confidant, Kuo Mo-jo, has accepted leastasfar as 1920 (then disillusion- Cho_ uEn-lai explained on July 21, the Kissinger-Nixon notion of the world ment with Wilson's performance at Ver- 1972 that China would like to help a as a five pointed star, that is, China as sailles on equality for small and weak na- great deal, "but our work still remains in- one of the five great economic units tionsled many politicized Chinese to sufficient. Our level of national economic along with the U.S., Russia, Japan, and look for a new principle identifying their development is not high and the help we Western Europe. And now, despite the own fate with that of oppressed and pro- supply to friendly nations is limited." protests of Iranian students in the U.S., gressive humanity), the recent emphasis Nonetheless, the Chinese do not have China fetes Farah Pahlavi, the Shah's of China as a developing nation is a quan- to be ashamed of the aid they give. It wife, as a Hsinhua reporter notes that titatively new development. (See John tends to meet crisis needs which other- Iran "has become the third largest oil .A._Pincher's article in the Jan.-Feb. 1973 wise might force a nation with a weak producer in the Third World." Appar- X issue of the Newsletter, "In Defense of capital or gold reserve position to be- ently, late in 1962 when China was suf- -k) National Economic Rights ".) come further dependent on some great fering from a joint Moscow-Washington i) But what do the Chinese do besides power or combination of poweri. The oilembargo, Iran sold her some oil. offer words of encouragement to the aid tends to be at the lowest of interest Later in March 1972, China signed an aid 0 poorer and weaker nations? Asa poor rates at a time when most aid-giving agreement with Iran to be repaid in ten country committed to putting her own bodies are raising interest rates. Con- years with oil exports to China. Once a limited resources into use for her own sidering how poor China is, it is nothing struggling nation, China may now be rapid development, China does not have short of amazing that her recent aid com- learning how to protect itself against the much aidto offer these Third World mitments to Third World countries have vicissitudes of the international market. countries.It can and does offer Chile exceeded those of the USSR. Russian analysts argue -- and the sta- some aid and buys some of her copper to Furthermore, as a member of the Se- tistics seem to bear them out --that help her fight against the big U.S. cop- curity Council and as a nuclear power theThirdWorldservesChina asa per companies, but it cannot compete participating more and more in the Inter- source of scarce resources and an export with the economic giants. It surely has no national Monetary Fund and other such market to earn the foreign exchange navy to send to protect Peru from for- organs, China can do much to reform and needed to purchase advanc materials eign encroachment. limit the terms of exploitation under from the more industrialized nations. But Consequently, it stresses self-reliance which the poorer nations suffer. how long can this pattern successfully and cooperation. Third World countries But may not these reforms serve to continue and not conflict with China's should unite, as the petroleum exporting stabilizethatexploitative international (Continued on Page 8) countries have been doing, to win more economic system just as labor unions, Edward Friedman is a member of the pa control over their own resources and once fought by owners as the enemy of litical science department at the University of fairer prices. Coffee producers, copper capitalism, served to stabilize the labor Wisconsin in Madison, specializing in Chinese .producers, .they. shoul0 all-unite. They .market? -Indeed, .there .is-a-clanger-that- -forelgrAppficy. Editorial

Now that a peace treaty has been signed and active U.S. mili- U.S. changed to one of bitter hostility in less than four years. tary involvement in Vietnam has ended, all of us cannot help butWhile Mao, himself, in 1944 and 1945 had talked of possible feel a deep and grateful sense of relief. We would all like to erase post-war U.S. aid and had even sent a cable to President Roose the memory of the war and restore the old order to our lives. velt asking to meet with him in Washington, lack of U.S. response But can we forget the millions of soldiers and civilians that have forced the Chinese to depend completely on the Soviets. Finally, died, the families that have been uprooted and shattered, the the U.S. never recognized the internal dynamics of the post-war jungle and ricelands that have been systematically ravaged? Cansituation and the Communist rise to power. Instead, we felt that we block out the pictures of deformed infants, napalm burned the two Chinese parties could be reconciled through U.S. inter- children, and young mothers and old women injured by the plas- vention and, when that failed, that by increased aid to the Na- tic fragments of anti-personnel weapons that even an x-ray ma- tionalists we could prevent a Communist victory. Thus by 1950 chine cannot detect? Don't we have some responsibility to re- some people blamed U.S. State Department officials for the "loss memberthe lessons from this war and to prevent future Vietnams? of China", never realizing that China was never theirs to lose. Don't we have a moral obligation to help repair the damage in- The lessons for the U.S. in Vietnam are clear. 1 he same dangers flicted by us? Critics may argue that the U.S. has not been alone exist of funneling aid only to the Saigon government and in- in inflicting damage in Indochina and that the money is needed at to the pockets of Saigon officials, rather than throughout Indo- home No doubt there is some truth in their arguments, but we china. Many still seem to feel that we can mediate between the believe an overriding obligation still exists for us. If we are sin- two side; and that we are responsible for the success or failure of cerely interested in establishing a real peace with honor and jus- the mediation. When we see that the struggle continues, will we tice for all the Indochinese people, it is not too soon to start the still feed the need to intervene again or accept the "loss of Viet- task of rebuilding.- nam" and "peace without honor" with the resulting recrimina- In joining with the people of Indochina in the work of relief tions in the U.S.? and reconstruction, it may be helpful to look at U.S. efforts in In the months ahead we should keep these points in mind and China after World War II. Granted there are important dissimilar- try to ensure that the U.S. government does not repeat its mis- ities between post-war China and post-war Vietnam. In China, takes in China. We should also remember the primary point of during and immediately after the war there was at least a facade this aid: to help rebuild Indochina as the people there see fit of nationalistic unity and cooperation between the Communist rather than to provide jobs and profit for American experts and and non-Communist forces in the face of the foreign aggressor, corporations. Japan. In the early and mid 1940s the U.S. was not seen as the There is no need to wait for the government and these cor- enemy by either Chinese party. After the war, the surrender of porations to act. Citizens from other nations, like Sweden, have Japan was clearly recognized by all, instead of both sides claim- already begun to send aid. We as individuals can take upon our- ing victory for themselves. selves the moral responsibility of making our own peace and But aside from the dissimilarities, the parallelsbetweenthe two helping in the reconstruction work with all the people of Indo- post-war situations are striking. In both China and Vietnam, a china. civil war was combined with an international war, or an anti- L.B.B. imperialist war as many peoplc believed. The Communist side won greater support from the people because 1) their movement was linked to a nationalistic cause and 2) their opponents were corrupt and could be seen as the puppets of a foreign power. Infact, in Indochina the U.. assumed the earlier colonialist position of Japan and later France. Groups involved in Indochina reconstruction: After World War II, the U.S. poured economic and military 1. AFSC, 160 N. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102. aid into China, just as we are now contemplating doing in Indo- To date has worked in the South in a rehabilita- china. In China, however, most of the aid went only to one side, tion and prosthetics center at Quang Ngai and in Chiang K'ai-shek's. The small amounts of aid intended for the the North in providing surgical equipment and Communists were largely diverted by the Nationalists and never medicines. made it through the lines. Instead, much of it ended up in the 2. Collette- Vietnam, P.O. Box 283 Station Outre- private pockets of Nationalist officials who were thus able to mont, Montreal, Canada. Sends money for medical amass large fortunes. In addition, the Nationalist government supplies and reconstruction to the DRV. spent considerable time and money lobbying with U.S. Congress- 3. Medical Aid for Indochina, 474 Centre St., New- men to keep the aid flowing and to ensure that certain private ton, Mass. 02158. Organizes educational efforts in Chinese interests would benefit by contracting and subcontracting the U.S. and sends equipment and medicines to arrangements. Few guidelines or inhibitions were set up by the the Red Crosses in the DRV, the PRG of south U.S. gjvernment to assure that the aid was effectively or proper- Vietnam, the National United Front of Cambodia, ly used. and the Lao Patriotic Front. As a result of this pattern of U.S. aid, the positive attitude

,which_the_Chinese _Communists_had.initially_adopted_towarcLthe., How the Chinese Solved their Drug Problem THE UNDERSTANDING CHINA By Paul Lowinger NEWSLETTER residential group of 100 to 200 people Itis frequently startling to read the that is part of larger community organiza- Louise B. Bennett, Editor U.S. government reports on opium pro- tions. Such a basic unit was effective in duction and distribution in China because carrying outnationaldecisions because they emanate from a source publicly members of every third or fourth family hostile to the People's Republic and allied in such groups were neighborhood acti- with the Chiang K'ai-shek government in vists. The local cadre was responsible for Taiwan. They are now quite different in propaganda, agitation, and indoctrination Published bi-monthly by the Un- tone from the reports which originated inthe anti-opium campaign and also in the 1950s with Harry Anslinger in the helped in the detection and social cen- derstanding China Committee. Lo- Bureau of Narcotics that said that China sure of those who continued to use opium. cal Board:Charles Cell, Michael produced opium for export as a national He reported the successes and failures of Fonte, P. Hooper Gramlich, Rhoads policy. this campaign to higher authorities. The U.S. Bureau of Narcotics stated Addicts were offered medical care, Murphey, John Musgrave, Joanne in 1967 that no opium was exported from and difficult cases were referred to reha- Russell, William Wei, Ernest Young. China. In 1970 the Bureau of Narcotics bilitation centers. National health cam- National Board:Irving and Jean and Dangerous Drugs reported that the paigns, including the one against opium Chinese production of opium was 100 from 1950 to 1953, also had the local Abkin, Jackson Bailey, Irving par- tons a year, which was just sufficient for support of a disciplined Communist party nett, Colin W. Bell, Sidney R. Bob, their medical needs. Even information of six million members. Walkar Bush, Bruce Douglas, Al- from those who left China between 1949 The enemy in the anti-opium cam- and 1953, often for political or economic paign was a class enemy. bertFields, James Gould, Stuart reasons, indicates a significant drop in "To import opium in large quanti- Innerst,RussellMcArthur, Ben the number of opium users. ties to China is a most pernicious Seaver, Edward F. Snyder, Osmyn In attempting to explain the success of means of the imperialists to de- this campaign after 200 years of a grave stroy the Chinese nation. The im- Stout, Byron Weng, John Watt, narcotic addictionproblem, what imperialists have intended to elimi- Frank F. Wong and Clarence Yar- mediately impresses one is the drastically nate our resistance and to enslave row. changed ideology of the young people, us as their colonial people ...In whichhas monumentally reduced the the past, the reactionary govern- supply of new addicts. This is a funda- ments of the various regimes were mental solution to addiction since the governments representing the feud- The purpose of the Newsletter is to make perpetuation of narcotic addiction de- alists, bureaucrats and compradores, pends on a supply of new users. The old who colluded with the top imper- at least a small contribution toward im- users spend less money to buy narcotics ialists to do evil and did not dare to proving U.S.-China relations by: since they die, go to jail, and are "clean" offend the imperialists. They, there- for intervals. New users are the major im- fore, could not and would not dare. seeking to report and interpret what. petus' to the supply and distribution and to suppress and exterminate the is happening in China.- .commit most of the 06'10' -t0 get money opium evil; but their actions were evaluating developMents in U.S. 1,01- to buy:narcotici: just- nominal. On the contrary, un,

iev toward 'Chine. . s . " NIch hafoienati;onis available abOut cl6r the cloak of prqiiibiting opidn, encouraging more communication in the changing. moralg 'and morals in ale. they implemented the narcotization The !Mail that increasedmutual un- -Peciple:5 Republi. In cbuntry that is- .Policy ,and .utiliied the name of --dInstanling will .provide a.p atmcn: 80 *cent rural, land distribution, opium suppression to exploit the per more conducive to-the settle:' lective..fiiming, and Ilew opportunities people. Thus the more they sup- ment tif :differences .anci:incresaed remain The essential 4sties. Chinek pressed the opium. evil, the wi.ier- cooperego n. 4ndthe ing$e city Were ,drastic- afty,reolOtized, providing the socialback- - (Continued On Page 7) Comments, questions, "and SUSWItieriS ground total 4cleolpiicai transfor- Patil-Lowitiger, M.D: ri ;I. associate pro- are welcome. t Iriation of the yaimger generation since fesso of psychiatry at Wayne StateUniversity.

the Communist revolution. . His article is a modified version of an essay that appeared in the Julylifugust 1972 issue of CliineseT -society was. reintegrated Social Policy; reptinted,here with their per- through lentil!streetcommitteesthatof- mission.Social Policyis published by the fey. pblitiparid .cultural" le.adersitip."The SocialPolicy Corporation, New York,N. Y.

basic-unit.,of- gOvrnment_is_baed_on,a: .10010.v Study Groups: Relating Marx to Daily Life

By Janet Goldwasser and Stuart Dowty

China today is a vast school -- with millions of workers and So we went to one of the older workers and asked him peasants studying philosophy, politics, and technical materials. to talk to her about the old conditions. This young woman, Study groups are organized during work, in spare time, in the herself, was from a poor peasant family, but now she only neighborhoods, and some even within families. They meet daily wanted to enjoy her good life with her family. The old or weekly depending on individual or local needs. workers talked to her about'conditions before Liberation; Workers and peasants are teachers as well as students. As one how we had worked twelve to twenty hours a day. We all factory worker explained to us: "Through study we learned to talked to her to help her change her outlook. We said her overcome difficulties in doing technical innovations. Workers who work, and ours, is all part of the revolution. We don't work study well give lectures to others; technicians teach technical just for ourselves; we work to support people in other theories; old workers teach techniques they have learned through countries who have not yet made their revolution. Two out practical experience. Study helps guide our work and our prac- of three people in the world today are still oppressed; they tice." are our class brothers and we should all work to help them." The Chinese are socialists, and the materials they study draw 2) Study helped people, especially younger people, under- heavily upon socialist theory: the worgs of Marx, Engels, Lenin, stand their role in society and was an important tool in fighting and Stalin. Of course, they also study the works of Mao Tse-tungalienation. Another young woman in the same textile mill talked who, they say, concretely applied Marxism-Leninism to the spe-of her own problem adjusting to her job: cific conditions of China. "I work in the preparation department of this mill. I'm a In addition to these theoretical and philosophical writings, middle school graduate and came to work here in 1968. At workers also told us they used newspapers and periodicals for first,I didn't like my job; I looked down on my work. I study materials, paying attention to current events in the na- thought that with all my years in school I should do better tional and international news. Sometimes older workers draw work than this. I thoughtI could contribute more else- upon their own experience for material to discuss and study, where. So my work was not very good.. . comparing conditions of the old society with the present. And, Some of the older workers here in the factory talked and the everyday problems and tasks which they face at work in the studied with me. They reminded me of my class back- shop are also subjects for evaluation, study, and action. ground, how my parents had been poor peasants who had Contrary to reports in the Western press, Mao's thought, as gone begging in the streets. They talked of their own past we could observe, was not studied as a dogma. It was not mem- lives, how men and women had worked 12 hours a day and orized and recited as a panacea for solving problems. Mao's more, and how they had had toselltheir sons and writings were ,taken seriously. The general, philosophical princi- daughters. ples of these works were studied, discussed, and applied con- The older workers said, "There are millions of jobs in cretely to daily life. our country, but all of them serve the revolution. All of Study was often called"class education" by people we them should be done well." They said it was our interna- talked to.It seemed to have five separate, but also related, tional duty to work hard and to help others. social functions. They set an example for me in their own lives. They 1) Workers studied to "change their wor'outlook"; to com- came and helped me with my washing and mending. We bat selfishness and individualism. A woman at the No. 3 Textile all studied together and they took an interest in my edu- Mill in Chengchou described to us how "class education" had cation.I was deeply moved by their actions and this class helped solve a problem of selfishness: education. I was determined to do my job well, and I "Twenty-three of us work together in the spinning de- changed in my work." partment -- twenty-one women and two men. The factory 3) Workers used study to solve contradictions (problems) works three shifts and we rotate shifts each week -- one they faced in their owl: work. A cadre in the Shenyang Trans- week mornings, the next afternoons, and the third week former Factory told us: nights. One young woman in our group often asked for un- "We have ,a drying furnace that is used by two different paid personal leave when it was our turn to work nights. workshops. Both workshops were trying to overfulfill their She would be off two or three days in a week when we production quotas and each demanded first chance at the worked at night. We didn't know why she requested leave furnace. They had a contradiction. Leaders of the two so often, so we talked to her friends and to other workers workshops met and discussed the problem. They suggested who knew her situation. allthe workers get together and study Chairman Mao's We found out that she simply didn't like working nights. article "On Contradiction". They then used ideas from She was young. She and her husband had only one child that article to analyze their situation. and her husband worked. They didn't need much money. They looked at the production of the whole factory She told us she would rather have the time to herself than have the pay for the work. (Continued on Page 6) Letter from the Shop Floor

Janet Goldwasser and Stuart Dowty visited China for seven weeks in Dear Friends: .April and May of 1972. Janet has worked until recently asa research clerk in an office in Detroit, Stuart as a spotwelder in a Detroit automo- A factory in China is much more than justa place to work. bile plant. They are now preparing a book on their trip, Huanyi: Journey All Chinese factories have a wide range of activities whichare not Through Workers' China. normally part of factories in the U.S. For example, most factor- During that trip they paid special attention to study groups and fac- toriesThis article,excerpted from an open letter Stuart wrote to ies provide inexpensive housing for workers and their families. friends he had worked with in an auto plant in Detroit. was written Chinese plants have nurseries and kindergartens, andmany run shortly after he returned to the U.S. primary and middle (high school age) schools that charge usually Below they pose with Chinese guides at Mao's birthplace in Shaoshan. only for food and supplies. Dining halls, with a large variety of Hunan Province. hot food, provide three meals a day-- although how often you eat there is your own choice. Medical care is free for workers and one-half cost to family members. Some factoriesrun health sani- toria in the countryside. Others run farms, nearbyor in the countryside, and workers sometimes take turns doing agricultural work. Factories in China also have a wide range of recreational and educational programs. They usually have a basketball court outside, and ping pong, volleyball, football (what we call soccer), and morning exercises. Some even have their own swimming pools. They have factory libraries and "workers' cultural centers" which are large auditoriums for films, plays,operas, and perfor- mances for songs and dances. A Chinese factory will usually also have amateur sparetime groups in all these types of activities. One factory we visited was the main plant of the East is Red Automobile Factory in Peking. The major product of their 4000 workers was a four-wheel drive jeep withcanvas top (75 hp, 4 cylinders, and regular three-speed gears). They made about 10,000 of these, in addition to about 100,000 auto unitparts sent to Northeast China for assembly. Production was low com- pared to our standards, but they told us that until the mid 1950s China didn't have an auto factory at all. About one third of the workers were women. We sawwomen doing many different types of work, including welding, running overhead cranes, driving hi-lows, and working on lathes, grinders, and milling machines. As for working conditions, workers had an eight hour day (including a half hour to an hour for lunch) and a six day work week. They very seldom worked overtime, and breaks arid lunch periods were determined by themselves. At this plantno regular breaks were scheduled during the day, but the pace of work, which workers also set themselves, was reasonable and allowed for short breaks like going to the john and getting a cup of tea. Wages were paid by the month, as salaries. They were lowcom- pared to U.S. standards, but so were living costs. Averagewages here were 50 yuan a month (one yuan is U.S. $.42); the highest were 108, the lowest 34 yuan a month.* How much a person got in wages was determined bya combination of factors. Workshop groups of 20 to 30 workers discussed each other's wages, considering such things as political consciousness, skill, and experience. It seemed that experience, or senior- ity, was most important. The group decisionswere sent to the Above, students learn from an old peasant conditions in the old factory leadership for final approval, though individuals could society along the Yellow River. appeal workshop decisions. There were no privilegesor high wages by job classification. A person on the line might be making *Ed, Note -- In many factories technical and administrative per- more than a tool and die man (or woman!). sonnel may receive more than 108 yuon, especially themore Leadership in the East is Red Auto Factory rested withtwo elderly with pre-1949 experience. It appears that in the future, however, wages for such personnel will be reduced. (Continued on Page 6) STUDY GROUPS: RELATING MARX TO DAILY LIFELETTER FROM THE SHOP FLOOR

(Continued from Page 4) (Continued from Page 5) and identified the contradictions when Bach workshop committees, the Party Committee of the Chinese Communist was key, when each was secondary to the total process of Party (CCP) and the Revolutionary Committee. There was no production. Then they worked out a priority in the use of "management" in the sense that we know it. The Party Commit- the furnace that satisfied everyone." tee and the Revolutionary Committee were made up of a "three 4) Study promoted technical innovations and increased pro- in one combination" -- workers from the shop floor, cadres duction. Women workers at the Red Flag Embroidery Factory (those who worked almost full time in administrative jobs), and in Tientsin declared that study had played a vital part in making representatives from a nearby Army unit. a new "three-headed" sewing machine. A veteran worker ex- To be on the Party Committee a person had to be a member plained: of the CCP. About 13 percent of all the workers in the East is "This three-headed sewing machine was developed only Red Factory were Party members. The Revolutionary Committee through repeated struggle against erroneous ideas. When it had both Party and non-Party members. The factory had 29 mem was first suggested, many workers said that it could never bers on its Party Committee and 43 members on its Revolutionary be done. But others of us felt our productivity was not Committee. high enough to meet the needs of the revolution and it was Cadres also spent time in manual labor. Usually this meant at important to develop such a machine. We followed Chair- least one day a week in the shop. In addition, workers said they man Mao's teaching that the Chinese people can catch up had the "two joins" -- cadres join in labor and workers join in with the rest of the world. administration and leadership.* We began experimenting, but we soon faced problems. Probably the biggest diffefence between a factory in China We studied Chairman Mao's teaching that "the emergence and one in the U.S. was the attitude of the workers themselves. of any new thing has to follow many twists and turns. It Chinese workers liked their work, and they were proud of their won't do to have clear sailing; if we did, we wouldn't be jobs. Besides working together, they also held regular workshop tempered." (Note: This is not a direct quote, but their own discussions and studied together (see other article). paraphrase of ideas in several different articles.) What really brought out for me the differences was an auto- So we persisted in our experiments. We learned from matic spotwelder at the East is Red Factory. In that factory I Mao's spirit, through his writings, and we all worked en- had sought out the metal shop, looking for spotwelders like the thusiastically. Then we found that the three pieces the ones I had worked with in the U.S. Sure enough, I found them -- machine produced were not allthe same; some had de- very much like those in Detroit. But then the Chinese workers fects. To solve this problem, we followed Mao's teaching took us to see a new automatic one just like the one installed in that we should look for the primary contradiction in the our plant in Detroit recently. The Chinese were very proud of machine. After we found the principal contradiction, we their machine --their automatic spotwelder had been built by could make the machine more precise, and we were success- the workers, cadres, and technicians in that factory with no out- ful in developing and perfecting it." side help. Many workers had even stayed after work, with no 5) Study was ;;n important part of understanding national and extra pay, to help design and build it. world affairs. I thought about the similar spotwelder in our plant in Detroit. For these women, as for the workers throughout the country, Iremembered how we hated it, how we loved to see it break study was a living, vital part, of their lives. They studied not to down. Some people had even "helped" it break down on occasion. memorize but to apply. Philosophy was a tool used by people in We griped because it sped up the line. And I remembered what we everyday life, not by scholars in an academic retreat. said about automation and machines like this causing unemploy- Study was also a group effort -- part of their collective effort ment and lay-offs. to develop their society. A woman at the Loyang Tractor Works In Peking the automatic spotwelder helped production but summed it up: did not result in speed-up or unemployment. The Chinese work- "In study we learn from the advanced, help the backward, and ers themselves wanted to increase production because they bent- all march forward together." ..fitted and their whole society .grew. I had to ask myself why the-1' same machine, was a frierid in Peking arrcrin enemy in Detroit. It's my.opinion that the reason lies in the very natureof the two different systems, capitalism and socialisin. * Ed. Note. Man,' of the conditions' and prbcethires mentioned I hope I haven't made it sound like everV.hing is perfect. fn here were introduced as a result orthe Cultural Revolution. TheChina. It isn't. We visited factories that, had problerns -- two in "three In one" revolutionary .comn?ittees, the "two joins'; theparticular where cadrqo seemed as detached from workers es use of political consciousness as a criterion in determining wages, bossesare from workers in Detroit Plants. But in Detroit.separa- and the de-emphasis on expertise,,dre all relatively new practices, tion between workers and management is partofthe system it- though in the past some orthem were tried at times. Before, self. In China such separation was a problem which could be following the Soviet model, the Chinese tended to rely on "ex- dealt within the context of their system. Socialism, as Chinese perts" and directors to run the factories, and emphasized skill as workers see it, won't solve things unless workers theThselves use opPOsed to political consciousness. Even today, these new prac- it -- it's not 4 cure-all. But, they believe, it opens the door, allow- tices are still undergoing change and experiMentation, though the ing workers to advance in the direction and with the pace that .generaLdirection.seems.set.. .they-deterrnine,:themselves. "Narcotics addiction is a symptom of the unhealthful state of the

individual inanunhealthful society. . ." (Continued from Page 3) "During the days of the reactionary 1951in Current Background, no. the use of opium was extended. regime, he tried, without success, 86. June 21, 1951). Chiang K'ai-shek's suppression of to rid himself of the habit on no This was the general treatment for most opium in narcotics was an explicit less than four occasions. Before he addicts. example."(C. Shao-wen, "Develop entered the present hospital, he Leniency was recommended for em- with Fanfare, the Anti-opium and was filled with doubts and anxieties. ployees of the opium traffickers,but Anti-narcoticsMovement",Han- He feared the suffering he must go there were heavier penaltiesfor those chow Ch'ang Ching lih Pao, June 4, through during the cure, the long controlling the traffic, manufacture, and 1952, in Current Background, no. time it would take, the repetition growth. Repeatedly one reads and hears 188, June 30, 1952, American Con- of his past failures, relapses after of the drastic measures employed by the sulate General, Hong Kong.) cure, the treatment by authorities People's Republic to eradicate drug ad- Meetings about addiction for everyone as a criminal, the unsanitary state diction, but the evidence, while real, does were part of the national action program that would be found in the hospital, not appear great and needs qualification in which all people spent an hour a day the need to sleep on the floor, and regarding the particular circumstances. discussing political and health topics of a host of other things. The New China News Agency reported national importance. The tcstimony of He found allhis fears entirely on March 29, 1951 that of 10,000 ad- former addicts was important to all levels unfounded. Only a few days after dictsdiscoveredinthe previous year, of this reformation, including newspaper entering the hospital, he became thirty seven had been executed by firing stories, small community groups, and re- visibly relieved and told his fellow squad. Difficult cases of addiction were habilitation centers. Mass meetings, slo- addicts gratefully: "There is really required to undergo labor reform similar gans, and flags used the words of the ex- a difference in the People's Gov- to the rehabilitation of landowners, bus- addicts. Addiction was denounced as anti- ernment. The workers here are so inessmen, and social criminals. Mass meet- social and unhealthful because it was an considerate and attentive to our ings were held at which opium, heroin, imperialist and Capitalist activity. needs. Fellow inmates are so friend- and narcotics equipment were burned. At Destroying the production of opium ly and helpful to one another. Fam- one meeting there was a public exhibition and stopping the opium traffic were of ily members may visit us three times of twenty traffickers and addicts who had the utmost importance to the anti opium a week. How can I but become con- refused to register but were exposed and campaign and a conscious policy of the fident in being able to achieve my then sent to prison. Chinese government. Distribution of the cure smoothly?" The addicts live a How do China's experiences in opium land from the landlords to t; peasants group life in the hospital. At 7:30 control relate to attempts at narcotics was followed by a change frn the culti- in the morning they take their first suppression in the U.S.? First, we must vation of opium, a cash crcrto the badly dose of their medicine. They then recognize the fundamental politicalna- needed food crops. As,Iinese reports meet to discuss the current affairs ture of addiction. Narcotics addiction is state, "Before liberation about 200 mou and evils of the habit they had. a symptom of the unhealthful state of of land in the suburbs of Canton were Breakfastisserved at 9:00 after the individual in an unhealthful society given to poppy cultivation. By the spring which patients are seen by the doc- where there is poverty, racism, repression, of 1951 the suppression of poppy cultiva- tor by rotation. Maly spend their and lack of national purpose. There is no tion was successfully accomplished." time in the cultural and entertain- American equivalent to the change in na At the same time, actions to suppress ment reading room. In the after- tional purpose which the Chinese under- banditry and local despots and to ac- noon, two hours are spent in studies went in their Revolution of 1949. complish agrarian reform hit at the sour- and discussions. In the evening there Second, while the suppression of op- ces of opium distribution as Chiang K'ai- are also social gatherings. The cure ium in China was a popular and consis- shek's anti-opium program never had. isbeing carried out with medical tent government policy, in the U.S. no Next came the rehabilitation of opium treatment supportedbycultural such consistent national drug policy exists. addicts. This began with their registra- amenities and group discussions. The punishment of marijuana and heroin tion. Arrangements by city anti-opium Inthis way the addicts appar- users contrasts with the increasingly well- committees included treatment to break ently found the cure more palatable. documented covert collaboration between the habit at home, in clinics, and in hos- Cures were effected on the average government, police, and law enforcement pitals. The Canton newspaper of June 3, in 12 days. Those physically weak agencies in the heroin trade both inside 1951 reported an anti-opium clinic and or with other complications neces- and outside the U.S. hospital with accommodations for more sarily needed a longer period, us- Finally, the Chinese experience shows than 500 patients was opened on April ually more than one month. The us that the rehabilitation program for an 16, 1951 by the Canton Municipal Com- method of gradual reduction of the addict must include total medical, committee for Suppression of Opium and habit was normally applied."("New munity, and political rehabilitation and Narcotics. The experience of addict Chang Life for Canton's Opium Addicts," must enjoy the support of the police and Yueh was typical: Canton Nang Fang lih Pao, June 3, all other members of the society. CHINA, THE WORLD, AND THE ference on behalf of an independent over China's southern borders, China had SUPERPOWERS Tibet. to get defensively involved with other (Continued from Page 1) In short, any principled Chinese for- groups in those areas for the most im- newly chosen identity as champion of eign policy concern for Third World in- mediate kinds of security reasons. the small and medium sizednations dependence cannot help but be compro- China can become in the immediate against the super-powers? mised and limited by overriding security future more militantly insistent on se- This is not to suggest that this new pri- concerns. The threats to China have not curing these frontier regions, including mary concern for Asia, Africa, and Latin been mere figments of the imagination Taiwan. Butfirstsheneeds tobuy Americaisnot real. Too muchi5at meant to enlarge a military budget. time by a rapprochement with Wash- stake. One can see it as the deemphasis of ington in order to improve relations with thesocialistblocasan international Nonetheless, thevery categories of Moscow. People have become so fasci- force and with it as the slighting of the China's comprehension of international nated by the PRC-USSR dance towards role of sucholdsocialistfriendsas relations can blind one to the fact that war that they have paid insufficient at Albania, Korea, Rumania, and Vietnam. what is good for China need not be good tention tothe huge growth of Sino- However;one must place this new vi- for other developing nations. No doubt Soviet trade in 1971, a far greater leap sion of China as primarily one of the de- Russia's involvement in India frightens than that with any other major power. veloping countries in the larger context of China. Nevertheless, the Chinese depic- China wants to normalize relations with her attempt to undercut the two super- tion of that Russian involvement in In- Russia before the next possible major powers, the United States and the Soviet dian affairs which is invariably portrayed international war. Union. In this context Third World coun- as undermining Indian independence dis- Indeed, Peking believes that a con- tries serve mainly as pawns for the PRC torts matters. frontation between theU.S. and the in preventing the USSR from carrying Soviet Union over the Middle East is pos- out a forward hostile encirclement of The truth is that Soviet aid in heavy sible, that the dollar will continue to de- China which could facilitate some future industry andoil exploration, balanced cline, and hence that Washington may intervention. trade, sale of military equipment without strike out wildly to hold its waning im Higher-ups in Washington take this as a a hard currency component, and much perium. All this can make for war, but it very real possibility. They know, as most else has enhanced New Delhi's prospects will not make for revolution until the Americans do not, that when the Indian for independent maneuvers not dictated hegemony of the super-powers is under- by her creditors in the West. army trained and armed Bengal rebels and mined by their internal strife. then intervened on humanitarian grounds But as Peking sees its successful rap- In short, China's Third World policy is on behalf of the Bengal people and ref- prochementwithWashington spoiling lanited not only by minimal resources ugees against a Pakistani army of occupa- this hostile Moscow-inspired encirclement, but by a vision of world history that tion, some peopleinIndia were ar- more room is opened up for a more prin- teaches that people can do little on their guing for applying the same course of cipled Third World policy. Although Chi- own behalf until rulers fight among them- action in Tibet. na isinvolved with a number of rebel selvesand so weaken themselves that There are 20,000 or so Tibetan refu- bands to her south, her involvement, how- new paths appear. On its own China sees gees south of Tibet. According to Tibetan ever, does not arise from an ideological no way for Asia, Africa, and Latin Amer- journalsthemselves,some didtryto commitment to revolution. On the con- ica to break out of the economic hege- create armed incidents in Tibet during trary, in response to two decades during mony of the powers and therefore China the Bang la Desh crisis. The Dalai Lama which paramilitary organs, of the USA acts out the only possible role for this chose that moment to give a news con- intentionally kept tensions alive on and period, one of liberal reform.

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