English Only Nato Restricted Ac/119-Wp/25 Committee

177

ENGLISH ONLY NATO RESTRICTED AC/119-WP/25

COMMITTEE OF POLITICAL ADVISERS

PlINTVCffiNTA I, CHINESE POSITION VIS-A-VIS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNISM

Note by the German Delegation

I. on C8th December, 1956 tho official Peking Party organ "Jen Min Jih Pao" nubIished an exceptionally detailed article under the heading tiFurther Information on the Historical Experien of the Proletariat Dictatorship". This article ties^up with one which hod anpearod in the same newspaper on 5th ^pril, and in which the Communist Party of China had discussed in ••rent detail the problems of Stalinism under the headline His- torical ^Experiences of the .Proletariat Dictatorship". According to an official statement by the llJen Min Jih Pao'1 committee of editors the latter article is based on a discussion which took place in the Polit bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, and therefore represents the official party attitude. This article is the most interesting _and important d-cm.ient published in a. I1Iiig time by leading Communlst_circles on örohlonis of __intornational Communism. Although written in the usual" lc>nBvindc~l'"Gtyic~*ft discusses in a surprisingly frank way nearly al'J the problems which have agitated and shaken the Communist world" in the course of recent months. It almost represents a brief rmide of modern Uarxism-Leninlsm; calls a spade a spade, and does not hesitate to express unequivocal views even where this might bo awkward. It is a passionate manifesto in favour of Commiunism under Soviet leadership which ends in an apotheosis of Communist world domination. The article ends: "It goes without saying that tho new-born system of proletarian dictatorship still has some difficulties and weaknesses to overcome; but where is there a birth without moments of weakness and difficulties? The future belongs to us. However many coners and bends we have still to pass, we know for certain that humanity will reach its shining goal: Communism. There is no power that could hold us back"'. II. This report briefly summarises the important points for a ne], Ltical assessment of 1he Chinese People's Republic, i.e. those points which ansv/er the question "what is the actual DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED nosition of China in the world today?" In the following detailed description the words a nc! terms used in the article have been omp'oyed as far as possible. 1 ) basis of ,/orid Tensions

At present, world history is determined by the conflict between the bloc of Imperialist aggressors and the bloc of oonce-leving Communist peoples. The United States who have now committed the most serious aggression against the Socialist camp in Hungary since their aggressive war in Kerea are the loaders ef the Imperialists. ".fter having failed in their attempt in Hungary, as they did before in Korea, the imperialists under the personal leadership of Dulles are trying to find a new philo s. phi eu 1 basis for the fight against Coriimunism in order to undermine and weaken it from within. Thoy try to sow discord among Communists and. to attack the Marxist-Leninist structure at its fiun.f;tinns. It has unfortunately become apparent that numerous C- nununists arc in danger of being deceived by such efforts.

^) The Bases of Ivlarxlsm-Leninism The Soviet Union is the first country which in practice a-plied the scientific doctrine of Marxism and developed it in the form of Leninism, Despite numerous mistakes the Soviet Pnion has achieved a great success. Owing to the lack of experience the-so mistakes wore inevitable; today however they have become an important lesson. The wa.v in which the October Revolution developed has set an example for the proletarians of all countries. The way chosen by the Soviet Union is tho only way to apply Marxism- Leninism. " The" most essential, indispensable principles of Conmiunist doctrine are;

a) led by tho Communist Party, the proletariat wrings political power from the bourgeoisie. Peaceful transition to Marxism-Leninism is not possible, b) Having gained power the proletariat establishes the dictatorship of the proletariat and, by means of force suppresses the resistance of the counter- re v"lution;trios. The dictatorship of the proletariat is a sine qua non for the nun.'Pt cat ion of Communism. c) Industry shall be nationalised.

d) agriculture shall bo col'ioctivised. Ma r X1 s m- Lo n i n 1 s rti without collect t-'isation of agriculture .'P -es not exist".

e) By means of planned economy the proletariat-governed State and the Communist Party lend tho people to Socialist economy and civiIisationi and prepare the transition to the Communist social order.

f) The socialist State supported by the working classes of all countries fights determinedly against Imperialist aggressors, and approves of the principle of proletarian internationalism, i.e. recognises the claim to ideologies! leadership by the Soviet Union. n VCiat ./e normally moan by the way of the October DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED Revolution are precisely these fundamental concepts which uro all universal truths of Marxism-Leninism, and which must bo applied everywhere. Por decades, legal opportunists have developed ideas which were intended to by-pass a way the proletariat must take in ( oder fco liberate itself. It is the task of all Communists to unite the proletariat and the popular masses in order to repel the brutal assault of the imperialists against the Socialist world, and to -er-»gross along the way opened by the October deV Cuti on. " 3) The Doctrine of Different Ways to Socialism The application of the above principles may give rise to national differences. All States and nations have their particular characteristics. "The cause of the proletariat in o given country can only triumph if the universal truth of Ma.rxisrn-Loninism is applied with regard to the particular 1 national characteristics : To deny the fact of particular national characteristics would mean committing; the error of doctrinarism, an error which Stalin committed during the last years of his life. "Doctrinaires cannot, understand that the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism manifests itself con- cretely, and becomes effective in real life, only through tho medium of the specific national characteristics". It is therefore wrong to apply mechanically according to the Soviet pattern the indispensable fundamental principles of Marxism-Leninism; hut the fundamental principles as such must not be touched. A special way to SociaIiSia'is therefore only possible within the very narrow limits of practical application of the "universal 1 truths ' of Leninism which comprise, as stated above, the dictatorship of the proletariat, collectivisation of agriculture, and the recognition of proletarian internationalism.

U) Stalinism

Stalin was a great fighter and Communist and made an outstanding contribution to the cause of international Communism by developing Marxism-Leninism in the Soviet Union in a creative manner> and by creatine the conditions for the triumph of Sociolism in his country, and for the victory over Hitler. Growing old and dazzled by praise, glory and victories he lest contact with the masses and made groat mistakes. The cause cf these mistakes must be looked for in the man himself, not in the Socialist system. "It follows that it is not necessary to correct the Socialist system in order to correct these mistakes". No system, however perfect can offer a guarantee against mistakes; mistakes cannot be avoided. It is true"that they may be gradually reduced in the light of growing experience. The Soviet Union is trying to correct Stalin's mistakes and to repair the harm done. This, however, cannot be done overnight. It is therefore ridiculous Y to describe the correction of Stalin s mistakes as destalinisation as do western bourgeoisie and Social Democracy, and to talk about a fight of Stalinists a.;ainst anti-Stalinists; this is an interpretation which unfortunately oven Cornmumists adhere to. Otalin und those comrades, who, under his influence, rode similar mistakes, should ho judged in an objective way and should, above all, not Le treated, as onomies. he must not condemn cut of hand all they did j, We must defend the go. gl. they have accomplished. "In our opinion Stalin's mistakes weigh loss than .his achievements." DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED rj) Criticism jtf .„Tito

1 '• c cannot describe the views of comrade Tito and other Yugoslav c Zitrades on Stalin's mistakes as well-balanced or objective. It Is undorslandab lo that the Yugoslav comrades nurse a particular resentment with regard to Stalirrs mistakes, but we are extremely surprise. ] that comrade Tito should have attacked practically all the' Sociolist countries and many Communist parties in his speech", -ve fee 1 obliged to state that his attitude was wrong when ne attacked so-cilled Stalinism and raised the question whether the course . initiated in Yugoslavia ir the so-called Stalin course would lead to victory. "This attitude can only lead to schism in the Communist movement. It is certain that the Yugoslav comrades have gone too far' NATO RESTRICTED -U- AC/1134717¾

In order to strengthen unity among international Communists and to avoid tho creation of conditions v/hich could be exploited by the enemy to carry confusion into our own ranks, we feel that we cannot do better than offer this brotherly advice to the Yugoslav comrades.

6) Tho Hungarian Question

Events in Hungary havo proved that the dictatorship of the proletariat 'was riot yet firmly installed in that country, otherwi.so they could not havo taken place. In spite of this state of affairs there are people who, even while claiming to be Coniniuni ot,s , not. only describe the counter-re volution in Hungary as "revolution", and who demand democracy for the countor-revolution- aries,, but who even condemn the action of tho Soviet Union in support of the Socialist forces. How is it possible that such strange confusion rf definitions could, occur? "Communists who defend such ideas have left the ground o.f Communism and find themselves in opposition to it in one and. the same camp with the bourgeoisie". According to Lenin, acceptance or rejection of the dictatorship of the proletariat is the very criterion whore the Marxist differs from the bourgeois. He w ho re .lc. et s the dictatorship of the proletariat and describes it as Stalinism and de'etrinairism betrays Marxism-Leninism and the rvQoletarian re y lution.

7) Soviet Leadershin of Proletarian Internationalism In view of the imperialist attack the most important task of the proletarians of all countries today is the strengthening of international solidarity. During the 39 years that have passed since the October Revolution, the Soviet Union has been the centre of the international Communist movement. The Soviet Union was the first country to adopt Socialism, and it is also the most powerful and most experienced country in the Socialist camp, which extends help and support to the other Socialist countries. Owing to these historical facts, and in tho interest of the common resistance against the US-led attack of the Imperialist camp, we must strengthen international- proletarian s< Iidarity with the Soviet Union as its centre .

International srlipority of the Communist parties represents an entirely new typo of relationship in the history of mankind. It is quite natural that the development of these relations cannot bo without difficulties. The nationalism of the small countries and the chauvinism of the big States are equally dangerous tc it. Systematic efforts must be made to avoid or to do away with such mistakes. Co must contrivo to bring proletarian internationalism into horrm ny v/ith the patriotic feelings of the smaller countries un' t promote the principle of equality between all countries under the leadership nf tiie 3- viet Union. Unfortunately in China t--o, signs of this chauvinism vis-à-vis smaller States DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED have become perceptible. It is for this reason that at the 8th Party Cf n.gress so much emphasis was put en the elimination of this very mistake.

III. These are., briefly stated, the essential contents of the article. They are self-oxplanatorv. They must open the eyes of the sceptics and the school of thought which believes that China is only half-heartedly Communist., and bring home to them the fact that the Chinese Cormnunists have nowadays become the most radical defenders of aggressive world Communism and the very whips of the system. The fear of a possible split in the Communist Bloc runs like a rod thread through the views of the Polit Bureau, v/avering fundamental c nceptions arc firmly, and without any consideration NATO RESTRICTED AC/IIQ-v;?725

for the u Pfects this might have on the W est and Asia, set straight Ogeiini and the line of ßuijr.rption botwuon Communists and no-n- Oommunists is clearly drown. For the observer who has been familiar with the development of Chinese Communism for sane years these views do not, however, come as a surprise. It is not true - as the press has often alleged recently - that the Chinese attitude lias changed and the course of Chinese Communism became tougher. China ho s a].,ays - and most recently at the 8th Congress • f the Cemmuriist Party of China in September 195f the Party in 1935, as the Conmunist Party of China. This is demonstrated partioularly convincingly 1 in their agricultural I - Iicyl where China has succeeded in grouping t ogot her 90,. of tee .forms i.e. h 50 million people, in collectives within a very oh st time.

Pontrorg . ti e theory that the Soviet Union is menaced Pr-a i the Kact, exactly the opt. site state of affairs prevails at present. At one of the most difficult danger moments for the Ccjr-uTiunist oyster.' arising in the european Satellites, China proved to hc tiie reg! iuble partner whv lias remained firmly loyal to the func amenta! onoi rts of Marxism-Leninism and whose determined support hr mono than anything else, enabled the Soviet Union to master the immediate :onger in such a comparatively short time. In a critical hour for the "Socialist Camp" China has proved that unity in this camp and common action with the Soviet Union are more important then the- gain of polit i.enl advantages in Asia, or the attempt to c - -me to an arrangement with the ,/est. This fact merits reflection.

Chou-Pn- lai's visits to Moscow, Parsaw and Budapest v<. vealod the practical signif j cancu of the article of 28tn December for China's f' -rci ,n policy. Ail the speeches, which Chou-En-Iai ma lo during this trip, were based on this article and frequently o. .nsisted mainly of long quot ations of statements contained therein, emphasising according to the place and the occasion, the Soviet claim to leadership (Idoscow), or the necessity for dictatorship cf the proletariat (Pudapest) or the principle of non-mechanical ap411 cot ion of the Marxi st-Lenini st doctrine (VParsaw). All speeches heweve-r, culminate in an almost imploring appeal for unity and a p re... mont among the Socialist countries and in the expressed amvicti that. tit..re is only .-no single Parxist Leninist doctrine.

it is still too early to indicate all possible consequence, Whjch may result from the article of P8th Deconbor and China's DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED : attitude as demonstrated by Ch<: u- dn-lai ' s trip to Moscow and the Sn to] 3 i tes. It is already quite certain though that China's im.urtanoo within tho Cootmunist PL,c haß a aiii increased c. nsidorabl; a fact ;iùch is being illustrated clearly by the visit of Vcrochilcv to Ped-:ing which has been announced - the first visit of a Russian or 0'- viet Head. .,f Stat<:;to Chin;;.