irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

September 8, 1972

Meetings of Unity and Friendship

—Report on the 1st Asian Table Tennis Championships

The Bankruptcy of Apriorism as Seen From the History of Knowledge

Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

PEKING Vol. 15, No. 36 September 8, 1972 REVIEW Published in English, French, Spanish. Japanese and German editions

CONTENTS

THE WEEK 3 Chinese Leaders Cable Vietnamese Leaders —Warmest congratulations on the 27th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam Chiao Kuan-hua Visits Pakistan Japanese Advance Party in Peking Good Early Rice Harvest Pai Hsiang-kuo Visits the Americas American Visitors

ARTICLES AND DOCUMENTS Victory Certainly Belongs to the Heroic Vietnamese People 5 1st Asian Table Tennis Championships: Meetings of Unity and Friendship — Our Correspondent 7 The Bankruptcy of Apriorism as Seen From the History of Knowledge — Tang Hsiao-wen 10 Geological Prospecting: Search for Underground Treasures 14 Aden Newsletter: New Landscape by the Red Sea — Hsinhua Correspondents 17

ROUND THE WORLD 19 Korea: Full-Dress North-South Red Cross Talks Viet Nam: Releasing Three Captured U.S. Pilots Japan: Strong Demand for Return of Northern Islands Tanaka-Nixon Talks: Joint Statement Issued

ON THE HOME FRONT 21 Grand Canal Rebuilt Prevention and Cure of Occupational Disease Good Harvest of Spring Cocoons Szechuan Silks

Published every Friday by PEKING REVIEW Peking (37), China Post Office Registration No. 2-922 Printed in the People's Republic of China

Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

THE WEEK

Chinese Leaders Cable Vietnamese Leaders

— Warmest congratulations on the 27th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam

Comrade Ton Duc Thang, raids and imposing a blockade through the laying of mines, but this is sheer day-dreaming. The bombs of President of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam U.S. imperialism have not shaken and will never be Comrade Le Duan, able to shake the iron will of the Vietnamese people. First Secretary of the Central. Committee of the Following President Ho Chi Minh's teaching "We prefer Viet Nam Workers' Party to make any sacrifice rather than lose the fatherland and be slaves," the heroic Vietnamese people, united Comrade Truong Chinh, as one and fearing no difficulties, are advancing trium­ Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Na­ phantly with firm militant strides. We are deeply con­ tional Assembly of the Democratic Republic of vinced that the Vietnamese people, tempered in pro­ Viet Nam tracted revolutionary wars and fighting in unity with Comrade Pham Van Dong, the peoples of Laos and Cambodia, will certainly defeat U.S. imperialist aggression and win complete victory in Premier of the Government of the Democratic their war against U.S. aggression and for national Republic of Viet Nam salvation. Hanoi The Chinese and Vietnamese peoples are close com­ On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the rades-in-arms and brothers sharing weal and woe and founding of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, we, going through thick and thin together. To support and on behalf of the Communist Party of China and the assist the Vietnamese people's struggle against U.S. ag­ Chinese Government and people, extend the warmest gression and for national salvation is a bounden interna­ congratulations to the Viet Nam Workers' Party, the tionalist duty of the Chinese people. No matter what Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam hardships and dangers the Vietnamese people may still and the fraternal Vietnamese people. face in the war against U.S. aggression and for national salvation, the Chinese people will remain on your side Under the leadership of the Viet Nam Workers' and give all-out support and assistance to your just Party, the heroic Vietnamese people have in the past struggle. 27 years fought with dauntless heroism and militant revolutionary stamina against one imperialist war of Final victory surely belongs to the heroic Viet­ aggression after another and safeguarded the fruits of namese and. other Indochinese peoples! socialism in northern Viet Nam. writing brilliant chap­ Mao Tsetung ters in the annals of the cause of liberation of the Viet­ namese nation. The heroic deeds of the Vietnamese Chairman of the Central Committee people in their anti-imperialist revolutionary struggles of the Communist Party of China have been a tremendous encouragement to the Chinese Tung Pi-wu people and a valuable contribution to the liberation Acting Chairman of the Peo­ struggles of all the oppressed nations and peoples of the ple's Republic of China world. Chu Teh At present, the Vietnamese people's war against U.S. aggression and for national salvation is developing Chairman of the Standing Committee triumphantly and the whole situation in Indochina is of the National People's Congress of excellent. The south Vietnamese armed forces and peo­ the People's Republic of China ple have launched fierce offensives on various battle- Chou En-lai fields, dealt heavy blows to the U.S. imperialist scheme Premier of the State Council of the of "Vietnamizing" the war and scored splendid victories. People's Republic of China U.S. imperialism has attempted to force the Vietnamese people to cease fighting by stepping up its air and naval Peking. September 1, 1972

September 8, 1972 3 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

Chiao Kuan-hua Visits He said that 104 member states of Iftikhar Ali. They exchanged views Pakistan the United Nations had voted for on issues of mutual interest and on Pakistan. This showed that neither the current situation in the south Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Pakistan nor China relied on veto Asian subcontinent. In the evening, Chiao Kuan-hua visited Pakistan but on principles. the Pakistan Foreign Secretary gave a dinner in honour of the Chinese from August 28 to 31 at the invita­ In his speech, Vice-Foreign Minis­ Vice-Foreign Minister. Speaking at tion of the Pakistan Government. ter Chiao Kuan-hua pledged that the the dinner, Iftikhar Ali emphasized On August 29, Pakistan President Chinese Government and people the fact that the bonds of friendship Bhutto received Vice-Foreign Minis­ firmly support the struggle of the and time-honoured ties linking Pa­ ter Chiao and, in a cordial and Pakistan people to safeguard nation­ kistan and China are not based on friendly atmosphere, had a long talk al dignity under the leadership of expediency but on principles that with him. On the same day, Presi­ President Bhutto. This struggle is a united us. It is said in Pakistan that dent Bhutto gave a grand banquet in just struggle, and just struggles are friendship with great China is an honour of the Chinese Vice-Foreign bound to win final victories. article of faith. This expression is Minister. In the course of a just struggle, what we truly mean from our heart. President Bhutto stressed at the Chiao Kuan-hua continued, there is Because the friendship with great banquet that the friendship between no so-called "isolation." Although it China is the very corner-stone of our Pakistan and China would continue is possible that some temporary phe­ foreign policy. to develop and never retreat. nomena occur now and then, the peo­ In his speech, Chiao Kuan- ple of the world always stand by He added that Pakistan wanted to hua declared: "The Chinese peo­ the countries upholding justice. The have good relations with all its neigh­ ple are friendly towards all peo­ U.N. resolution on the India-Pakistan bours on the basis of principles and ple of the whole south Asian subcon­ question adopted by 104 votes in the not at the cost of Pakistan's friend­ tinent. We hope that all countries ship with China. General Assembly last December and in the subcontinent will live together the resolution adopted later by 13 in peace and friendship and seek Pakistan, he said, was being asked votes in the Security Council have among themselves fair and reason­ to recognize a reality. Realities did fully demonstrated this fact. How­ able solutions to their mutual prob­ not exist on one side of the fence. ever, there are people who are now lems on the basis of the Five Prin­ There were realities on the other side trying to deny, disrupt or refuse to ciples of Peaceful Coexistence. We too and these were embodied in the implement these two resolutions. are glad to see that the Government U.N. General Assembly resolution of This is something which China can and people of Pakistan are making December 7 and the Security Coun­ by no means agree to. We must efforts to this end. Not long ago, cil resolution of December 21. If veto such unjust actions, not only a partial troops withdrawal agree­ Pakistan was being called upon to now, but also in the future when ment was reached through consulta­ recognize one, the world should en­ necessary, because this is a veto tions between India and Pakistan to sure recognition of the other as em­ which is used to uphold justice. What which His Excellency President bodied in the U.N. resolutions. is strange, however, is that some peo­ Bhutto made positive contributions. ple, who are opposed to the right This agreement should be implement­ President Bhutto said that China of veto reasonably exercised by ed conscientiously. His Excellency was stressing recognition of the total China, are attempting to use a sort President Bhutto has recently reiter­ reality and not a partial one. of fantastic right of veto, that is, to ated that he is prepared to meet The Pakistan President pointed out unwarrantedly interfere in the inter­ with Mr. Mujibur Rahman without that China was not responsible for nal affairs of another sovereign conditions to discuss all important the provision of veto. Some coun­ country. The purpose of my visit to questions between them. We deem tries had insisted that they would your country is to strengthen the that this reasonable proposal should join the United Nations only if veto friendship between our two countries be welcomed and responded." power was given to them. One great and this is a normal activity between power had exercised about 107 two friendly sovereign states. How­ Japanese Advance Party vetoes. Some of these vetoes had ever, some people have gone so far fallen on the right of self-determina­ as to attempt to veto it. Dear sirs, In Peking tion of the people of Jammu and this would not do. Now I have A 13-member Japanese advance Kashmir, while others had neutral­ come, and I will come again in the party to make preparations for ized measures to prevent aggression. future. None can ever succeed in Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka's Another great power did not have attempting to undermine the friend­ visit to China arrived in Peking by to use veto so much because of its ship between China and Pakistan. air on August 31. brute majority in the United Nations. On the afternoon of the day he Its members are: Hiroshi Hashi­ The President said that if veto was arrived in Rawalpindi, Vice-Foreign moto, Chief of the China Section of to be eliminated, both China and Minister Chiao Kuan-hua held talks Pakistan would be happy to do so. with Pakistan Foreign Secretary (Continued on p. 23.)

4 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

Victory Certainly Belongs to the Heroic Vietnamese People

SEPTEMBER 2 was the National Day of the Demo- their valuable experiences accumulated in protracted cratic Republic of Viet Nam. Peking marked the struggle are worthy to be learnt by the Chinese people. occasion with warm celebrations. Renmin Ribao publish­ "Since the beginning of this year, the heroic Viet­ ed an editorial on September 1. extending greetings to namese people in the north, bringing into full play the the Vietnamese people. The China-Viet Nam Friendship spirit of determination to fight and win. have severely Association and the Chinese People's Association for punished the U.S. aggressors, shot down or damaged Friendship With Foreign Countries gave a cocktail party many intruding U.S. aircraft and captured a number on the evening of August 31. and D.R.V.N. Ambassador of U.S. pilots, thus successfully foiling U.S. imperialism's to China Ngo Thuyen gave a reception the next war escalation against north Viet Nam. Fighting the evening to celebrate this red-letter day. Among the enemy and engaging in production simultaneously, they Chinese leaders attending the reception at the Viet­ have given vigorous support to their flesh-and-blood namese Embassy were Chou En-lai, Yeh Chien-ying, compatriots in the south. The patriotic armed forces Chang Chun-chiao, Yao Wen-yuan, Li Hsien-nien. Chi and people in south Viet Nam have launched an all- Teng-kuei, Li Teh-sheng, Wang Tung-hsing and Kuo round, sustained and powerful offensive against the Mo-jo. Ambassador Ngo Thuyen and Comrade Yeh enemy, wiped out large numbers of enemy effectives, Chien-ying spoke at the reception which proceeded in captured many important cities, towns and strategic an atmosphere of warmth and friendship. "Viet Nam positions, liberated vast areas including Quang Tri in 1972," a pictorial exhibition, was on display at the Province and further enlarged the liberated areas. The Peking Art Gallery together with another exhibition of South Viet Nam National Front for Liberation and the photographs and paintings by Chinese journalists and Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic artists during their visits to Viet Nam. of South Viet Nam have won universal support among the masses in south Viet Nam and their international "Renmin Ribao" Editorial prestige is ever rising. At the same time, the people of Cambodia and Laos have also won many inspiring fresh In its editorial entitled "Victory Certainly Belongs victories on various battlefields. The situation in the to the Heroic Vietnamese People," Renmin Ribao wrote: war against U.S. aggression and for national salvation throughout Indochina is becoming more and more "The Vietnamese people are a heroic people; the favourable to the Indochinese peoples and unfavourable Vietnamese nation is a great nation. Under the leadership to U.S. imperialism and its lackeys. of the Viet Nam Workers' Party, the Vietnamese people have waged a protracted and unswerving struggle "While paying lip-service to putting an end to the against imperialism and colonialism for the indepen­ war in Viet Nam, the U.S. Government has persisted in dence and liberation of their fatherland. They finally its policy of aggression and pursued the so-called pro­ won victory in the August. Revolution and indepen­ gramme of 'Vietnamizing' the war. It has not only dence for their fatherland. The Vietnamese people then mined and blockaded the ports of north Viet Nam, but also dispatched massive air and naval forces to bomb fought for nine years against the French colonialists barbarously the populated areas and dykes and dams and drove them away. Particularly over the past ten in north Viet Nam in a vain attempt to compel the Viet­ years and more, the indomitable and courageous Viet­ namese people to submit. If the U.S. Government really namese people, defying hardships and sacrifices and wants to end the war in Viet Nam, it must withdraw all advancing wave upon wave, have carried out a sublime U.S. aggressor troops and U.S. valet troops from south and heroic struggle against U.S. aggression and for Viet Nam, stop all aggressive actions against Viet Nam, national salvation and won great victories. Their and seriously negotiate with the Vietnamese side for a struggle and victories have set a splendid example for peaceful solution of the Viet Nam issue on the basis of the oppressed nations throughout the world that a weak the seven-point proposal and the elaboration of its two nation can defeat a strong and a small nation can defeat key points put forward by the Provisional Revolutionary a big, and added an illustrious page in the annals of Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam. There the world's national-liberation struggles. The Chinese is no other way out. It is entirely miscalculation on the people are proud of having such indomitable comrades- part of the U.S. Government to attempt to intimidate in-arms as the Vietnamese people. The courageous and the heroic Vietnamese people with war escalation or tenacious fighting spirit of the Vietnamese people and any other threats."

September 8, 1972 5 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

We are firmly convinced, the editorial noted in timidation whatever of the U.S. imperialists could shake conclusion, that victory certainly belongs to the heroic the Vietnamese people's determination to struggle for people of Viet Nam and other Indochinesc countries. independence and freedom. So long as the U.S. im­ perialists continue their aggression against Viet Nam, the Vietnamese people will continue to fight till total Ambassador Ngo Thuyen's Speech victory. That constitutes the sacred right to self-defence In his speech at the reception, Ambassador Ngo of the Vietnamese people as well as of the other peoples, Thuyen reviewed the Vietnamese people's resistance to victims of imperialist aggression in the world. The French colonialism and their present war against U.S. U.S. administration must stop its war of aggression aggression and for national salvation. The Ambassador against Viet Nam. stop bombing and shelling north said: The Vietnamese people in their just struggle have Viet Nam, mining and blockading the ports of ihe enjoyed the broad and strong approval and support of Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, put an end to the the people of the fraternal socialist countries, of friendly 'war Vietnamization' policy in south Viet Nam. It must countries and of progressive peoples all over the world, withdraw quickly the whole of U.S. troops and troops including progressive people in the United States. They of foreign countries belonging to the U.S. camp from south Viet Nam, cease supporting the Saigon puppet are, he added, always enjoying the big and precious administration headed by Nguyen Van Thieu to let the support and aid of the brotherly Chinese people. "This south Vietnamese people settle by themselves their own year," he said, "facing the U.S. imperialists' quite serious affairs." new war escalation in Viet Nam, the Chinese Govern- ment has more than once confirmed its people's deter- "Faithful to the Joint Declaration of the Indochinese mination to support the Vietnamese people's resistance Peoples' Summit Conference, the Vietnamese people against U.S. aggression for national salvation till pledge to strengthen solidarity and fight side by side total victory. The Chinese Government has twice signed with the brotherly Lao and Khmer peoples to expel supplementary agreements for economic and military aid completely the U.S. aggressors from the Indochinese On this occasion, on behalf of the Central Peninsula, so that it may become a peninsula of peace, Committee of the Viet Nam Workers" Party and the independence, prosperity of the peoples of the three Government of the D.R.V.N., I would like to express Indochinese countries bound together and for ever in our sincere thanks to the Communist Party of China, close unity, co-operation and mutual aid in the building the Government of the People's Republic of China and of their respective countries each according to its own the brotherly Chinese people." line," Ambassador Ngo Thuyen concluded. 'Confronting the danger of total bankruptcy of the 'war Vietnamization' policy." Ambassador Ngo Thuyen Comrade Yeh Chien-ying's Speech pointed out, "Nixon is frantically using air and naval forces to strike violently at north and south Viet Nam, Yeh Chien-ying, in his speech, warmly greeted the showering every day lens of thousands of tons of bombs Vietnamese comrades-in-arms on this festive occasion. on the newly liberated areas of south Viet Nam, on Noting that the situation in the Vietnamese people's war against U.S. aggression and for national salvation was populated regions, towns, townships, dyke and dam excellent, he said: The Chinese people heartily rejoice systems and irrigation works of north Viet Nam; he at every new victory won by the fraternal Vietnamese has thus piled up and is continuing to commit monstrous people in this war. crimes against the Vietnamese people. At the Paris Conference on the Vie! Nam issue, the U.S. representa­ "U.S. imperialism invariably misjudges the situa­ tive is still stubbornly refusing to respond to the 7-point tion, places a blind faith in its so-called 'strength,' under­ solution and the elaboration of its two key problems put estimates the strength of a people's war and is unwilling forward by the Provisional Revolutionary Government to give up its aggressive ambitions," Yeh Chien-ying of the Republic of South Viet Nam. added. "Although it has withdrawn large numbers of ground forces from south Viet Nam, it has at the same "The Nixon administration is continuing to stick to time dispatched there larger air and naval forces than the Nguyen Van Thieu puppet regime as a tool to carry ever. Although it has abandoned some U.S. military out the 'war Vietnamization' policy, to suppress and bases in south Viet Nam, it has established bigger bases trample underfoot the eager desires for true peace, for aggression in Thailand. In appearance it is quitting national independence, freedom and democracy advo- ground battles, in fact the barbarous acts of aggression cated by the south Vietnamese people, with a view to of the U.S. air and naval forces are intensifying and realizing the U.S. imperialists' neo-colonialism in south escalating the war. U.S. aircraft have not only imposed Viet Nam. However. Nixon's cruel moves and perfidious a blockade by mining the ports of the Democratic Re­ actions cannot for sure avoid ignominious setbacks on public of Viet Nam, but wantonly- bombed inhabitation the Viet Nam and Indochina battlefields and deceive centres and industrial and agricultural enterprises in anybody. northern Viet Nam, and even damaged dykes and irriga­ "The Vietnamese people cherish peace dearly, but tion systems in an attempt to cause floods in the high it should be peace guaranteed by independence and water season and menace the Vietnamese people. This freedom. No ruthless force whatever, no impudent in­ (Continued on p. 18.)

6 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] Meetings of Unity and Friendship

by Our Correspondent

THE First Asian Table Tennis Championships, an ancient civilizations. But centuries of colonialist and event which people have been looking forward to imperialist oppression have brought untold suffering with great eagerness, opened in Peking en September and poverty to the Asian peoples, caused them to be 2. This is the first major international tournament divided and hampered the development of sports in organized by the Asian Table Tennis Union (A.T.T.U.) Asia. Today, a new situation has emerged. The Asian since its inauguration in May this year. Taking part peoples are closely bound together by common ex­ in the current championships and in the First A.T.T.U. periences, common struggles and common victories. Congress which opened in Peking on September 4 were Growing friendly exchanges between the peoples and players and representatives of table tennis associations sportsmen of Asia have resulted in an advancement of from 31 countries or regions in Asia — Afghanistan, the sports in the various Asian countries and regions. Arab Republic of Yemen. Bhutan. Burma. Cambodia, The holding of the First Asian Table Tennis Cham­ Cyprus, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the pionships at this historic moment fully reflects the char­ Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. Hongkong, India, acteristic of the new era in Asia. Unity and friendship Iran. Iraq. Japan. Jordan. Kuwait. Laos (Lao Patriotic was the theme throughout, whether at the champion­ Front). Lebanon. Macao. Malaysia. Nepal, Pakistan, ships' opening ceremony, during competitions in the Palestine, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, team events or at the First A.T.T.U. Congress. the Philippines, the Republic of South Viet Nam, Sin­ gapore, Sri Lanka. Syria, Thailand, Turkey and China. Opening Ceremony Asia is the world's biggest continent and has the On the evening of September 2, the huge Capital greatest population. Its peoples have created splendid Gymnasium in the western suburbs of Peking looked

The opening ceremony.

September 8, 1972 7

Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

more magnificent than ever, with red flags fluttering to the proceedings of this momentous gathering un­ and the whole building brightly lit. An untimely autumn precedented in the history of Asia. rain did not dampen the ardour of spectators. Eighteen At 8 p.m. sharp, the band struck up and, to the thousand people in the capital, including the diplomatic accompaniment of thunderous applause, a contingent of corps and friends from various countries in Peking, gilds carrying bouquets and flanking a huge model of gathered at the gymnasium that evening for the opening the A.T.T.U. emblem and a colour party holding aloft ceremony. red flags marched into the hall followed by referees A huge painting welcoming Asian friends stood by and umpires for the championships. Next, the 31 teams the front gate of the gymnasium. Inside the build­ and representatives of table tennis associations of the ing was a huge A.T.T.U. emblem, and there were also various countries and regions in Asia marched spirited­ streamers with such slogans in Chinese, English, French, ly past the rostrum. Some of them waved miniature Arabic and Japanese as "Long live the great unity of the flags of their countries, others waved table tennis bats people of the world!" and "Learn from the people and decorated with coloured bunting or silk kerchiefs, still sportsmen of the various Asian countries!" In the com­ others waved their arms to greet the spectators. petition hall itself, joyous expressions of friendship When the representatives of Viet Nam, Laos (Lao blossomed everywhere. In Peking, and indeed the Patriotic Front) and Cambodia marched into the hall, whole of China and oilier parts of Asia, millions of peo­ they were greeted by the spectators with deafening ple waited by their TV or radio sets to watch or listen applause. They brought to the meeting deep friendship and glad tidings of victories at the front of the struggle against U.S. aggression. They had overcome many dif­ ficulties, some having braved enemy gunfire and U.S. Among Those Who Attended the bombing to come to Peking. Opening Ceremony The delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea marched past in neat formation. At the Afro- Tung Pi-wu, Acting Chairman of the People's Re­ Asian Table Tennis Friendship Invitational Tournament public of China; Chu Teh, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; Li Teh- in Peking last year, they gave a good account of them­ sheng, Director of the General Political Department of selves and they are ready to make new contributions the Chinese People's Liberation Army; Kuo Mo-jo, to make the current championships a success. Vice-Chairman of the N.P.C. Standing Committee; Chi The Japanese delegation marching at the centre of Peng-fei, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wu Teh, Chair­ man of the Peking Municipal Revolutionary Com­ the parade is a strong team in world table tennis. mittee; Wang Meng, Minister of the State Physical To facilitate the exchange of experience with players of Culture and Sports Commission; Chang Hsi-jo, Pres­ other countries, a delegation of veteran players has also ident of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign come. Affairs; Ting Hsi-lin, Vice-President of the Chinese Some countries and regions have sent for the first People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries; time their table tennis teams to Peking. This reflects the common desire for friendship and unity among the Samdech Penn Nouth, Prime Minister of the peoples of Asia. Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia; Quite a number of teams have promising young Hisao Kido, representative of the President of the Asian Table Tennis Union and leader of the Japanese players who have come to gain experience and improve Table Tennis Association Delegation; Bae Myong Gyu, their game. This shows that a new-emerging force has Deputy President of the A.T.T.U. and leader of the mounted the stage of Asian table tennis. Table Tennis Association Delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Michael Chen Wing Sum, The Chinese men and women players in red track Vice-President of the A.T.T.U. and President of the suits brought up the rear. In the past few years, they Table Tennis Association of Malaysia; Sayid Moham­ have visited many Asian countries and regions and mad Sibtain, representative of A.T.T.U. Vice-President have been hosts to numerous Asian table tennis teams. and leader of the Pakistan Table Tennis Delegation; They are resolved to continue to give full play to the Rabie Hafez El Turk. Vice-President of the A.T.T.U. spirit of "friendship first, competition second" in the and Secretary of the Palestine Table Tennis Associa­ current championships and modestly learn from the tion; Tan Sock Kern, representative of the A.T.T.U. Honorary Treasurer and leader of the Singapore Table good sportsmanship, experience and skill of their Asian Tennis Delegation; and Sung Chung, Honorary Secre­ friends. tary-General of the A.T.T.U.; and The opening ceremony was a grand gathering of Leaders of table tennis delegations, table tennis unity and friendship. As Hsiao Kido, representative of associations and sports organizations of various coun­ the A.T.T.U. President, said in his speech that evening: tries and regions in Asia; and representatives from various countries who are in Peking to attend the "Friendship is more important than success or defeat. meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the Asian- Success or defeat is temporary while friendship is ever­ African-Latin American Table Tennis Friendship In­ lasting." vitation Tournament. Speaking on behalf of all players participating in the championships, Kuwait player Jawad Boushahri

8 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! Peking Review, No. 38 irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] said: "Lot us make greater contributions to promote friendship between the peoples and players of Asia and raise the level of table tennis in our continent to a Results for Team Events higher level." The nine events in the First Asian Table Tennis After the ceremony, there were rich and colourful Championships are: men's team, women's team, men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's dou­ performances. Over a hundred young men and women, bles, mixed doubles, boys' singles and girls' singles. dressed in the costumes of China's various nationalities, Competitions in the men's and women's team performed a dance of welcome. Singing enthusiastically events were held from September 2 to 6, while contests as they danced with floral hoops and fans, they formed in the individual events will take place from Septem­ a multitude of designs to express the deep friendship of ber 9 to 13. the Chinese people for the other peoples of Asia. This Teams from 25 countries and regions took part in was followed by Chinese acrobatics, a wushu exhibition the men's team event and teams from 21 countries and a traditional Lion Dance. To round off the show, and regions took part in the women's team event. hundreds of boys and girls performed group callis­ Competitions in the two events were in two stages. In the first stage, the teams for both events were thenics. As the music rose to a crescendo, all taking divided into eight groups, each to play off for group part in the performances moved to form the letters placing on a round-robin basis. In the second stage, A.T.T.U. and the Chinese characters for "unity" and teams of the same placings from different groups "friendship" before the rostrum, and they cheered and played each other again on a round-robin basis for applauded all the Asian friends, thus bringing the whole final placings in the two events. opening ceremony to a grand finale. Men's Team Event 1. Japan 5. Malaysia Press Welcome 2. China 6. Hongkong 3. Democratic People's Re- 7. Iran Renmin Ribao on September 2 published an public of Korea editorial which expressed the feelings of the Chinese 4. Democratic Republic of 8. Syria people and sportsmen for the current championships. Viet Nam The editorial said: "The holding of the First Asian Table Women's Team Event Tennis Championships in Peking, the capital of our 1. China 5. Malaysia country, overwhelms us with joy. The arrival of friends 2. Japan 6. Singapore 3. Democratic People's Re- 7. Iran from various Asian countries and regions is a support public of Korea and inspiration to the Chinese people." 4. Democratic Republic of 8. Philippine Viet Nam "The First Asian Table Tennis Championships." the editorial said, "are being held in a new situation in which the peoples of Asia arc advancing in unity. It is the first time in Asian history that so many coun­ have among them a deep-rooted traditional friendship. tries and regions on this continent are represented in an They have always sympathized with and supported one international sports tournament. This eloquently proves another in the protracted struggle against imperialism that it is the common desire and pressing demand of and colonialism. And they are now confronted with the Asian peoples to promote friendship and strengthen the common task of opposing aggression and interven­ unity. That is an irresistible historical trend. tion, defending state sovereignty, safeguarding national independence and developing the national economy and "The founding of the Asian Table Tennis Union is culture. Through common struggle, they have gained a pioneering event. This truly representative interna­ an ever better understanding of the great value of their tional sports organization of a new type upholds the friendship and the importance of their unity. Over the principles of equality among all member associations, past few years, friendly contacts have become increas­ big or small, mutual respect and democratic consulta­ ingly frequent among Asian peoples and sportsmen, and tion. It has won the general, approval and support of table tennis has made great progress in Asian countries. the people and table tennis circles of Asian countries. The table tennis ball is small, yet the friendship it Thanks to the energetic efforts of friends from various brings is invaluable. Many friends from various Asian Asian countries, the A.T.T.U. has done much work and countries have said that they are taking part in the achieved remarkable success in the four months since current championships not for titles but for friendship. its founding to promote friendship among the people We are convinced that the championships will not only and sportsmen of Asian countries and regions, help popularize and further develop table tennis in Asia strengthen the friendly ties between the table tennis but consolidate and strengthen the friendship and unity circles and sportsmen of Asia and those of other con­ of the Asian peoples and sportsmen." tinents, and stimulate the development of table tennis in Asia and the world. The successful holding of this grand First Asian Table Tennis Championships demon­ strates the tremendous vitality of the A.T.T.U.

"Asia is one of the cradles of resplendent ancient civilizations. The industrious and brave Asian peoples

September 8, 1972 9 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

The Bankruptcy of Apriorism as Seen From The History of Knowledge

by Tang Hsiao-wen

WHERE does man's knowledge come from? It is in- duction. In slave society, due to the development of born, or is it acquired after birth? For thousands of animal husbandry and agriculture and especially the years, this has been the fundamental issue in the rise of the towns, the progress made by handicrafts and struggle between the materialist theory of reflection and architecture and the needs of navigation and war. there idealist apriorism. By asserting that man's knowledge appeared in ancient China, Egypt, Greece and Rome was inborn and "inherited from heaven," Liu Shao-chi astronomy and, closely related to it, mathematics and and other political swindlers ran completely counter to mechanics, which were the earliest branches of natural the Marxist-Leninist theory of knowledge and to the science. With the development of production in feudal history of human knowledge. society, science and technology made further advances The Marxist-Leninist theory of knowledge holds in their struggle against religion and theology. In that "the standpoint of life, of practice, should be first China, for instance, many inventors and scientists and fundamental in the theory of knowledge." (Lenin: appeared who had contributed to human civilization Materialism and Empirio-Criticism.) Human know­ with such great inventions as the compass, paper- ledge originates from and develops on the basis of social making, printing and gunpowder, and who had brought practice, i.e.. the struggle for production, class struggle ancient science and technology such as astronomy, and scientific experiment. Only in the course of practice mathematics, agronomy and medicine a step forward. can man get into contact with countless phenomena of From the second half of the 15th century, the capi­ the objective external world through his sense organs, talist mode of production gradually took shape within form perceptual knowledge and, after thinking it over the feudal system in western Europe. The tremendous in the brain, achieve an active leap from perceptual to growth of industry, new geographical discoveries and rational knowledge. Only through practice can truth expansion of navigation and trade necessitated specific be tested and developed and the fundamental aim of and deeper study of different branches of nature and knowing the world — which is to change the world — be at the same time provided the objective possibility for reached. Practice and only practice is the source of doing so — there were enormous material for observation knowledge. No hero on earth can know and change the and new means for experimenting and new instruments. world when he departs from practice. Only at this time did a really systematic experimental Chairman Mao teaches us: "Marxists hold that in natural science come into being: physics, chemistry, human society activity in production develops step by biology, physiology, medicine and so forth were step from a lower to a higher level and that con­ founded and developed as independent departments. sequently man's knowledge, whether of nature or of This shows, just as Engels pointed out, that "from society, also develops step by step from a lower to a the very beginning the origin and development of the higher level, that is, from the shallower to the deeper, sciences has been determined by production." (Dia­ from the one-sided to the many-sided." (On Practice.) lectics of Nature.) This is an incisive summing-up of the history of the Thereafter, the epochal advances in natural science, development of human knowledge, a sharp weapon for such as the three great 19th century discoveries of the us in criticizing the idealist apriorism of Liu Shao-chi law of the conservation and transformation of energy, and other political swindlers. cytology and the theory of evolution, as well as achieve­ The history of man's knowledge of nature is ments in modern natural science, have all been deter­ basically the history of his struggle to transform mined by the needs of social practice and the develop­ nature, the history of the development, of social produc­ ment of production and technology of the time. tion. Natural science, which is the crystallization of Let us cite for example man's knowledge of knowledge about the struggle for production, has been energy. This has gone through a process of develop­ gradually accumulated and developed from a lower to a ment from a lower to a higher level, from the shallower higher level as man's productive activities ceaselessly to the deeper and from being one-sided to many-sided. advance in breadth and depth and in the course of class At the beginning, mankind led a primitive life for a struggle and the development of scientific experiment. long time without any knowledge of fire. About half Natural science had not yet been formed in a million years ago, they started to learn the use of primitive society, when the level of production was very fire. Later, through accumulated experience in practice low and mankind had only begun to gain some over tens of thousands of years, they learnt initial knowledge of nature through practice in pro­ to make fire by friction, which was the conversion of

10 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] mechanical motion into heat in practice. Still later, Liu Shao-chi and other political swindlers, how- after repealed practice through long years, man came over, alleged that a person need not have taken part to the conclusion that "friction is a source of heat." In in any social practice or relied on the masses of the peo­ the 18th century, the steam engine was invented, which ple but had only to depend on "the brains he was born for the first time in practice converted heat into really with" in order to know everything. This is most pre­ usable mechanical motion. posterous! The steam engine is a product of the development The history of human knowledge of the biological of production, "the first really international invention." world gives another rebuff to such nonsense disseminat­ (Dialectics of Nature.) In western Europe, especially ed by Liu Shao-chi and other political swindlers. For England, the expansion of the international market a long time, religion, idealism and the metaphysical and the swift growth of industry urgently demanded world outlook dominated in biology and asserted that the solution of the power problem. This impelled man ail species of animals and plants on earth were created to study and try to make steam engines. The develop­ by God with his own purpose, and they could never ment of the iron industry made possible the manufacture change. and improvement of the steam engine, and this was In 1859. Darwin published his Origin of Species, the result of the productive labour of countless which systematically proved with a wealth, of fads that workers. biological species had never remained the same since The technical knowledge required in making steam the beginning of time and were not immutable and that engines was accumulated by the masses in long-time the modern biological world was the result of prolonged production struggles. Before the Englishman Watt, the historical evolution. Thus God was driven out of the idea of* using cylinder and piston had already been biological world and biology became a science. mooted in Germany, and in France and England itself more than one person had produced comparatively However, the theory of evolution was no accidental primitive steam engines and applied them to production. discovery, it was the inevitable product of the continued It was in repairing an old steam engine that Watt dis­ development of capitalist industrial and agricultural covered certain drawbacks of the machine, such as the production and science. In the mid-19th century, the enormous waste of steam and its limited function of British Government had widely organized "expeditions" pumping water, and this prompted him to improve it. to prospect for natural resources in the colonies At first he and his collaborators introduced a separate in order to carry out colonialist plunder. Objectively, condenser which greatly raised the engine's efficiency. this enabled them to collect much biological data. At Later, after experiments for over a dozen years. Watt the sanre time, to meet the needs of the development and his colleagues succeeded in making combined use of large capitalist farms, the selection of fine strains of the fly-wheel, steam valve and centrifugal governor was practised which also provided rich materials for to improve the properties of the engine and enable it the study of the evolution of species. The various to become a motor for much wider use. This fact branches related to biology, such as taxonomy, shows once again that every important development in anatomy, embryology and paleontology had also by that the knowledge of man has to go through the repeated time collected much material. All this prepared the process of practice, knowledge, again practice, and again way for the birth of the theory of evolution. knowledge, and that it never comes out of the void. That Darwin was able to formulate the theory of evolution was certainly not because he had an "nspira­ The appearance of the steam engine gave man the tion" but because he had for scores of years carried out opportunity to learn the mutual relation between heat a great deal of study and field observations and personal­ and mechanical energy. By the 1840s, when the big ly taken part in scientific experiment. Between 1831-36. machinery industry had begun to develop, people began he travelled around the world and carried out field to sum up experience gained in production and analyse studies and research on zoology, botany and geology in and study the steam engine. Scientific experimentation many parts of South America, Australia and Asia, and led to the theoretical conclusion that mechanical energy the theory of evolution gradually took shape in his and heat energy can transform themselves into each mind. Then he devoted another 20 years to studying. other. Proceeding from this, they discovered the uni­ collecting and analysing data on the evolution of living versal natural law of the conservation and transforma­ organisms. He also personally engaged in experi­ tion of energy, marking the beginning of a new epoch ments for the selection of new strains before he in the history of man's knowledge of energy. As the was finally able to complete his scientific work The scope of productive practice widened and giant strides Origin of Species. Wallace, another British biologist, were made in natural science, man began to tap ever arrived at basically the same theory at almost the same fresher sources of energy, including electric, chemical time. This testifies to the fact that the necessary ma­ and atomic energy. Man's knowledge of energy has thus terial foundation was already in existence for the become deeper and deeper. All this shows the gigantic founding of the theory of evolution. amount of common efforts made by workers and labouring intellectuals and the long years spent before It must also be pointed out here that many ventures mankind attains the present level of knowledge and into this realm had already been made before Darwin. utilization of energy. Lamarck of France and others had put forward ideas

September 8, 1972 11 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] similar to the theory of evolution and waged struggles objects. Moreover, while studying the objects, man's against such fallacies as reactionary teleology. The ability to consider only their number and shape to the fruits of research of Darwin's predecessors had provid­ exclusion of all other properties was also the result of ed him with the necessary ideological material for a long historical development based on experience. It founding the theory of evolution. was by no means "endowed by nature" or inherent All sciences are relatively independent and have in people's minds. Arc mathematical axioms a priori? their inherent contradictions, their own logic of develop­ No. The whole is greater than the part; if two quantities ment and their series of abstractions. But the emer­ are equal to a third, they are equal to each other — these gence and development of any science, no matter how and other mathematical axioms are basic premises on abstract it is or how great its relative independence, which inference is made. Mathematics itself cannot depend in the last analysis on the development of social prove these axioms, but practice is able to prove that practice, and whether the conclusions arrived at are they reflect the most fundamental relations between correct or not" can be tested only through practice. Take space forms and quantity in the world of reality; and mathematics for an example. The most abstract of it is precisely because people have discovered these sciences, it studies space forms and quantity relations most fundamental relations on hundreds of millions of in the real world. To facilitate such study, mathematics occasions in their productive activities that they be­ must temporarily exclude their concrete contents and come axiomatic. In addition, mathematics as a whole make inference and algorism by using such highly ab­ is not inferred solely from axioms. As Engels pointed stract concepts as points without dimensions, lines with­ out: "In order to get any further, we are obliged to out thickness and breadth, planes without thickness, bring in real relations, relations and space forms which constants a and b, variables x and y, and so on and are taken from real bodies." (Anti-Duhring.) It is social so forth. In doing so, it superficially conceals the fact- practice and the development of industry and techniques thai these abstract concepts originate from the real from a lower to a higher level that propel the develop­ world and social practice. Idealists often single out the ment of mathematics — from mathematics dealing with abstract nature and relative independence of mathe- constants to mathematics dealing with variables and matics. distort and exaggerate them, and rave that the from elementary to higher mathematics. Closing their concepts and principles of mathematics are bestowed eyes to historical facts, idealists treat the abstract na­ by nature and are a priori sensuous intuitions. Duhring ture and relative independence of mathematics as abso­ and his ilk said: In pure mathematics, the mind lutes and describe them as a priori things divorced from deals with "its own free creations and imaginations"; the objective world of reality and social practice and mathematics has a "validity which is independent of developing in isolation. This is pure nonsense. particular experience and of the real content of the The development of man's knowledge relies on the world." In his work Anti-Duhring, Engels trenchantly progress of his social practice and is, therefore, inevi­ criticized such fallacies. tably restricted by historical social conditions. This is True, pure mathematics does have a validity which all the more true of people's knowledge of the history is independent of the particular experience of each in- of society. During the long historical period before dividual. However, this only serves to show that what Marxism came into being, people had only a one-sided mathematics reflects are objective facts independent of understanding of the history of society and did not man's experience, and does not show that mathematics realize the objective laws of social development and the are conceived entirely in the mind without making use role of the masses in making history. The reason for of the experience offered us by the external world. this is twofold: on the one hand, the exploiting classes, The history of the emergence and development of mathe­ out of the needs of their class interests, distorted the matics testifies to the fact that "like all other sciences, true history of society and, on the other hand, the mathematics arose out of the needs of men; from the labouring people could not know the essence of the measurement of land and the content of vessels, from history of society due to deception by the exploiting the computation of time and from mechanics." (Anti- classes and to the small scale of production at the time. Duhring.) Mankind obtained the concepts of number It was only in capitalist society in which big industries and figure from the real world through social practice. and their product — the proletariat of modern times — At the very beginning, people did not have the idea came into being that the knowledge of the history of of number. Later, they made simple calculations by society could be turned into science in its true sense. counting with fingers, tying knots and making notches, The proletariat, however, did not at the very outset but they still could not completely depart from the recognize the essence of capitalist society. Seeing only concrete objects. It was only after counting in these the separate phenomena in capitalist society and their ways for generations and repeating and making com­ external relations, workers engaged in spontaneous parisons between them for millions of times that the struggles by smashing machines and burning down idea of number divorced from the concrete objects was factories. During this period, only such trends of formed through practice. This is also true of the con­ thought as Utopian socialism could emerge. After ac­ cept of figure. In the course of making various kinds cumulating rich experiences through prolonged economic of objects, people gradually formed abstract concepts and political struggles and after these experiences had of figures in their minds after countless observations been scientifically summed up by Marx and Engels to and comparisons with regard to the shapes of different create the scientific theory of socialism, the proletariat.

12 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! guided byirtr.org/cra revolutionary theory, began toIRTR gai nCultural a Revolutionbourgeoisie Archivetries to undermine the [email protected] strug­ profound understanding of the essence of capitalist so­ gle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie by making ciety and its own great historic mission. A scientific use of revisionists who have sneaked into the revolu­ analysis of capitalist society helps us understand the tionary ranks of the proletariat and secretly peddle past history of society, foresee the future and reveal idealist apriorism. All this, of course, is of no avail. the general laws governing social development. The reason why Marxism came into being only in the capi­ Why are the reactionary classes at all times and talist era, and not at an earlier time, was that the in all countries so zealous in advertising idealist aprior­ practical conditions for the birth of Marxism were ism? The emergence of exploitation and oppression of available only in the capitalist era and not before it. man by man in history is, in the first place, the out­ Chairman Mao has taught us: "In our acceptance of come of a certain historical stage, i.e., of class society. his theory [i.e., Marxism] no such formalistic or In order to make people believe the lies that "exploita­ mystical notion as that of 'prophecy' ever enters our tion is justified" and "oppression is justified." the ex­ minds." (Oppose Book Worship.) ploiting classes describe the exploiters as "men who are born wise" and the labouring people as "born fools." The entire history of human knowledge tells us They also allege that class differentiation is decided by that all knowledge and scientific inventions are sum­ God's will, and they go so far as to describe reactionary maries and generalizations of the experience gained by preachings such as "those who work with their minds the masses in their long years of practice and are govern while those who toil with their hands are gov­ products of historical development. Scientific dis­ erned" as universally accepted eternal laws. Just as coveries and creations are bound to result if possibilities Marx and Engels pointed out when they criticized tor them arise as history develops to a certain stage Thomas Carlyle, an English idealist, that he, to all in­ when the growth of production and the progress of tents and purposes, aimed to prove that "historically class struggle call for them and when certain objective created class differences are made natural differences conditions exist. These, after being summed up and which people must recognize and revere as a part of generalized by exponents of advanced ideas, are bound the eternal law of nature by bowing before the wise So result in a new leap in knowledge. Citing the ex­ and noble ones in nature: the cult of genius." "And ample of the discovery of the materialist conception the final answer is that the noble, wise, and learned of history, Engels incisively elucidated this truth when ones should rule." (Book review published in New he said: "While Marx discovered the materialist Rhine Gazette. Political Economic Review, No. 4.) In conception of history, Thierry, Mignet, Guizot and all advertising idealist apriorism, Liu Shao-chi and other the English historians up to 1850 are evidence that swindlers are, in essence, of the same mould as the it was being striven for, and the discovery of the reactionary classes in history. The difference between same conception by Morgan proves that the time was the two, if any, is that while one aims at preserving ripe for it and that it simply had to be discovered." and strengthening the rule of reactionary classes, the (Engels to W. Borgius, January 25, 1894.) other aims at rehabilitating the overthrown landlord and capitalist classes and turning the dictatorship of There are different characteristics in different eras the proletariat into the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie when the reactionary ruling classes use idealist apri- and socialism into capitalism. orism to fool the people. And following the continuous advance of social history, their tactics become more and The Marxist-Leninist theory of knowledge synthe­ more cunning and despicable. In ancient times, owing sizes the positive results gained in the history of human to the low level of the social productive forces and knowledge, and is a scientific generalization and sum­ natural science, the slave-owners and feudal landlords ming-up of it. The proletarian revolutionary teachers used to spread idealist apriorism in the form of mysti­ have profoundly studied and criticized all the attain­ cism and fideism. While in modern times, with the ments in the history of human knowledge, tested them growth of the social productive forces and the advance­ one by one in the revolutionary practice of the prole­ ment of natural science, and especially with the emer­ tariat and drawn scientific conclusions there from. There­ gence and development of Marxism — the scientific fore, to have a good grasp of Marxism, we should not world outlook of the proletariat — the reactionary ruling confine ourselves to bearing in mind the conclusions classes realize that they cannot palm off idealist aprior­ drawn by the revolutionary teachers from historical and ism by solely relying on undisguised mysticism and revolutionary reality, but should study in a deep-going fideism. So they make use of some new discoveries way how these conclusions have been obtained. Lenin and achievements in natural science, unscrupulously taught us that continuation of the work of Marx, "must distort them and hawk the reactionary theory of idealist consist in the dialectical elaboration of the history of apriorism under the cloak of "science." Hiring a batch human thought, science and technique." (Conspectus of "vassals with academic degrees" to carry out so-called of Hegel's "Science of Logic.") Studying some history "I.Q. tests" and investigate the family history of so- of knowledge will help us gain a deeper understanding called "outstanding" figures, the bourgeoisie has worked of the Marxist theory of knowledge, draw a clearer line overtime to "prove" that man's wisdom and talent are of demarcation between the materialist theory of reflec­ innate and hereditary. Following the victory of tion and idealist apriorism and raise our ability to dis­ Marxism-Leninism both in theory and in practice, the tinguish between genuine and sham Marxism.

September 8, 1972 13

Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

Geological Prospecting Search for Underground Treasures

HINESE geological workers have located a large aluminium and lead are estimated to be among the C number of mineral deposits and collected a largest in the world, and the size of iron, coal, copper, tremendous amount of hydro-geological and engineer­ sulphur and phosphorus deposits also rank high by world ing geological data for developing (he country's socialist standards. In addition, certain rare minerals have been industry. discovered. Geological workers have also found huge In old China, many large iron-ore and coal mines iron-ore deposits for the big iron and steel centres of were controlled and plundered by the imperialists — Anshan. Paotow and Wuhan as well as numerous the inevitable result of the Kuomintang reactionaries' deposits for the small and medium-sized iron and steel dependence on imperialism and their selling out of the enterprises. By giving full play to the spirit of "main­ nation's sovereignty. On the eve of liberation, there taining independence and keeping the initiative in our were only a few geological surveying units staffed by a own hands and relying on our own efforts." they have handful of personnel and equipped with 14 imported discovered large oilfields in various parts of the country, drilling machines, and work was confined to recording thus rapidly building up China's petroleum industry a few isolated geological phenomena and making which was virtually non-existent before libera! ion. theoretical studies without any relation to the actual China now no longer depends on imported oil and the conditions in China. imperialists' absurd contention that China is a country After liberation, the Party Central Committee and "poor in oil" has been thrown overboard. Many im­ Chairman Mao set down the tasks for geological work portant minerals have been found in the vast interior. and issued timely directives concerning the principle to too, and this provides the needed material foundation be followed at each period, thereby pointing out the for setting up an independent and integrated industrial orientation of developing China's geological work. system and speeding up socialist construction. National and local organs for leading this work were The amount of exploratory drilling carried out in set up as far back as 1950. Meanwhile, energetic efforts one year today is scores of times that of the total for the were made to train geological workers, and prospecting half century before liberation. Establishing the size of and investigations were undertaken on an extensive a mineral bed used to take three to five years, but now scale. this takes only a year or two. Painstaking efforts over the past 20 years have Armed with Mao Tsetung Thought, a large con­ yielded good results. Prospecting over a vast area of tingent of personnel working in every field of geological several million square kilometres has been completed. work has been trained since liberation. There are more Whereas only 170.000 metres were drilled in the 50 years than ten colleges and schools of geology and nearly 20 before liberation, drilling in the 22 post-liberation years universities have faculties teaching geology. Before totalled tens of millions of metres. More than a hundred liberation, there were only several hundred people kinds of economically useful minerals have been found, engaged in geological work; the number today runs to hundreds of thousands of mineral-showing points have six figures. been located and the quantity of many mineral deposits Below are three reports from different parts of the of industrial value determined. Known reserves of country on achievements scored by geologists in their tungsten, molybdenum, tin. antimony, zinc, manganese, search for minerals for the motherland.

level, most of its members were not On the "Roof of the World" acclimatized: they had headaches, felt dizzy and a fullness of the chest, At work on the Chinghai-Tibet cause of their terribly difficult ter­ and could neither eat nor sleep. But Plateau, also called the "Roof of the rain. The area the team had to no one was daunted. They followed World." is the No. 15 Geological Team work in was about 6.000 metres above the example set by workers of the of Chinghai Province. Transferred to sea-level, or 1,000 metres above the Taching Oilfield, a national pace­ Chinghai in 1969 from subtropical snow line. This meant low air pres­ setter in industry, who relied on their Hainan Island, the team has com­ sure, ice and snow the year round own efforts and fought against terri­ pleted the assessment of the size of a and frequent avalanches. fic odds to open up a huge oilfield for rare and important ore deposit in the The first problem confronting the the country. Everyone brought into region of the Kunlun Mountains. team was how to settle down in such play the revolutionary spirit of "fear­ Rich in mineral deposits, the Kun­ circumstances. When it arrived at a ing neither hardship nor death," lun Mountains were uninhabited be­ place some 4.000 metres above sea- stepped up training and took various

14 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] preventive measures, medically and work, they ascertained that the area large quantities of which are being otherwise, to gradually accustom had rich deposits of precious ores. mined and shipped out today. themselves to working at high alti­ tudes. They hacked at the frozen ground with picks and carried rocks up from the glacier one by one for No Coal South of the Yangtze? building a road so that their geo­ logical equipment and other gear Fukien, Kwangtung, Kwangsi, ties were mined there in 1958 when could be brought up. Anhwei, Chekiang, Kiangsu, Kiangsi, there was a great leap forward in the Hunan, Hupeh and other areas south national economy. Why then did At one stage, they had to move of the Yangtze River were said to be people say there weren't coal de­ materials from the foot of the moun­ poor in coal. This was something left posits in most places? An area in tains a kilometre up to their camp over from history. In the past nearly Nanking, for example, was said to in the prospecting area so that prep­ all the coal they needed came from be devoid of coal deposits, as was arations could be made for receiving stated in some records. But careful others coming up behind. Generally mines north of the Yangtze. Foreign examination revealed that this con­ yaks are used for that sort of work, mining specialists said that in ancient clusion was based on information but the animals had not yet arrived. times the region south of the Yangtze from a few shallow drillings and as At the altitude of 6,000 metres where was a place where the earth's crust such could not be representative of the air is rarefied, any movement at was in constant movement and a conditions deeper down. To assert all was an effort. But in order to place of violent volcanic activity that that the whole area had no coal complete their task of assessing the did not favour coal formation. Hence deposits on the basis of limited data deposits as early as possible for the the scarcity of coal. was idealistic and metaphysical. cause of the motherland's socialist Facts, however, have proved to the construction, they carried the whole contrary. Since the Great Cultural The group carried out another survey, and at the same time studied ten tons of materials up to the site in Revolution began, large numbers of and analysed the data obtained in the three clays. small and medium-sized coal-mines past. Step by step they established have gone into production here. The After prospecting had begun, for a the geological structure of that area, period they were sealed off from sup­ saying that "the south lacks coal de­ and drillings at the intermediate and plies by heavy snowfall. When coal posits" is rapidly being consigned to deeper levels showed that there was supply ran out, they used yak dung oblivion. coal of fairly good quality. Further and the bones of ox and sheep for An illustration is provided by the drillings in and around the area fuel. When they had no more vege­ Kiangsu Coal Prospecting Group exploded the fallacy that there was tables, they ate salted garlic. In this which was set up in 1969. no coal. way, they tided over the difficulties While studying relevant geological Some people in the past held that until communications were restored. data, this prospecting group found even if coal deposits were found in Some units of the team gave eve­ that there were coal-mines in southern Kiangsu. they would prove ning entertainments once a month. southern Kiangsu as early as a cen­ to be of little value as the seams For a stage they cleared one square: tury ago and that substantial quanti- were too broken up and unstable. metre of ground at the centre of their ice-bound encampment. Their au­ dience sat on rocks or stood amidst the ice and snow. Their singing and laughter echoed through the ice­ bound mountains on the "Roof of the World." Why were these team members so full of verve in such trying circumstances? The answer is not hard to seek: in our socialist country they were not hired hands working to keep body and soul together but were revolutionaries armed with Mao Tsetung Thought serving the people. Full of pride, they called themselves "vanguards of socialist industrial construction." This was why the team members could so cheerfully negotiate glaciers, scale precipices, climb each peak and examine every exposed rock in the prospecting area. After two years of

September 8, 1972 15 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

workable seams for a Later they studied Marxist philoso­ single shaft or multiple- phy and realized that large and small shaft mines. were a unity of opposites. If they sought only for large deposits and Starting from this shut their eyes to the small and dialectical materialist medium-sized ones, which were theory of knowledge, easily accessible and could produce the group made a con­ quicker results, it would not be crete analysis of each favourable to the development of the specific site. Further metallurgical industry. Earlier, they investigations revealed had discovered an ore deposit of con­ the presence of rela­ siderable size in a certain area, but tively stable coal seams it lay some 500-600 metres below the in an area of uncom­ surface and the hydrological condi­ plicated geological struc­ tions were complicated. To sink a ture near Chenchiang. vertical shaft was difficult and to This site had formerly develop this large mine would take been abandoned because much time, so it could not meet the mining in this area pressing needs of the metallurgical proved to be difficult industry. When the team recognized and its deposits were this fact, while continuing with this estimated to be quite work, it began paying due attention limited. Data from con­ to seeking small and medium-sized tinued exploratory drill­ deposits, making necessary arrange­ ing, however, showed ments in both manpower and re­ that the coal deposits sources for this purpose. Of the total ore reserves reported by the team to Rejoicing at the discovery of a new mineral deposit were a dozen times greater than had been the state over the past few years, some 60 per cent were from small estimated previously. Analysis showed that though the and medium-sized deposits. Over the past three years, coal geological structure of the coal-bear­ deposits discovered by the Kiangsu Another important aspect in carry­ ing area was complicated, that did Prospecting Group in southern ing out the policy of "walking on not mean it was incomprehensible. two legs" is that geological teams The terms complex and simple were Kiangsu amounted to twice the total deposits ascertained before 1969. mobilize the masses to take part in a unity of opposites. The entity searching for mineral deposits. This With the rapid development of coal­ could be complicated but the parts is the mass line followed in all work mining in southern Kiangsu, numer­ might be simple. The geological in China. Facts have proved that the ous small and medium-sized mines structure in Chiangning and Chen- creativeness of the people is unlim­ have gone into operation. These will chiang, for instance, was rather ited, even in a fairly specialized help terminate, in the near future, complicated, but in certain parts of field such as geological prospecting. that area it was relatively simple. southern China's dependence on re­ Whenever a geological team comes to Although the broad seam structures gions north of the Yangtze for coal a town, its members lose no time in were unstable, there could be stable supply. explaining to the peasants the im­ portance of finding minerals for the state. They put on display specimens of different ores and minerals and "Walking on Two Legs" teach the local people the rudiments of prospecting. In every county a In 1957 the North China Metallur­ has seen to it that both specialists and station has been set up for people gical Company sent its No. 518 the masses are mobilized to search to report their findings. As the Geological Team to the foothills of for minerals and that prospecting masses are well acquainted with local the Taihang Mountains, which di­ should put equal stress on both large, topography, once they are mobilized, vides the two north China provinces small and medium-sized deposits. of Shansi and Hopei, to search for they never fail to give a vast number Prior to the Great Cultural Revolu­ minerals. Over the past 15 years it of useful clues. Subsequent pros­ tion, some comrades were influenced has discovered and determined for pecting by geological teams have by the revisionist policy of "putting the state rich iron-ore reserves proved that such clues have often led the stress on things large and running into several hundred million to the finding of many valuable ore- tons. foreign" peddled by Liu Shao-chi and bearing points. Several mines now his ilk. They wanted only to look for in operation, for instance, were Effectively carrying out the policy large deposits, alleging that small located with the help of an old of "walking on two legs," the team deposits would not be of much use. shepherd and a village doctor. 16 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] Aden Newsletter

New Landscape by the Red Sea

HE People's Democratic Republic helmets and with strong ropes tied pressed our respects for the workers' T of Yemen, a littoral state along around their waists, working in mid­ labour enthusiasm and revolutionary the shores of the Gulf of Aden and air. Some, in groups of four or five, spirit. Rahmen replied with emo­ the Red Sea, has a glorious anti- were boring holes for dynamite with tion: "The colonialists dominated our imperialist tradition. It has won pneumatic drills. Others were clear­ country for nearly 130 years but they independence and freedom after a ing the road-bed of stones, which did not build a single highway in prolonged armed struggle against crashed down to the valley with a our countryside. Today, we have won colonial rule; its people today are deafening din. independence and become masters of working with might and main to our country. Our people are deter­ Chinese engineers and technicians build up their country through their mined to redouble their efforts to working together with them told us own efforts. build a new society." that these Yemenis — now skilled At the construction sites, villages workers — were keen on acquiring and an island we visited recently, we the latest techniques to build up their The New Countryside were impressed by the revolutionary country. Defying hardship and During our tour of the rural areas, spirit and zeal displayed by the peo­ fatigue, many of them had spent long we were deeply impressed by the rev­ ple in the nation's reconstruction. hours under the broiling sun learning olutionary spirit of the people of to handle pneumatic drills weighing Democratic Yemen in building a new- At a Construction Site 28 kilogrammes each. By now there countryside through hard work and were over 100 skilled Yemeni drillers We visited in mid-April the con­ self-reliance. struction site of the Ain-Mahfid working on the project. Highway, a major project in the The Yemeni workers, we were One hot April Sunday, Governor country's Three-Year Plan for Eco­ told, showed deep concern for state of the Second Province Awadh Al nomic Development (1971-74). Work property. One afternoon last March, Hamed who was very hospitable took started last September, and at the there was a heavy downpour in the us to a well-sinking project near time of our visit, the 30-kilometre Nusah area. The mountain flood Lahje, the provincial capital. Hand­ section from Ain to Mudia was al­ swept down with it mud, sand and icapped by the shortage of modern ready paved. As we drove along it, stones, threatening the workers' sinking equipment, the peasants we found ourselves joining an living quarters and the storage where there made a supporting frame with endless stream of lorries rushing pitch and diesel oil were kept. At date-palm trunks, and the earth they towards the construction sites with this critical juncture, the first thing dug up from the bottom of the pit loads of sand, road-metal, cement, that struck the Yemeni workers was with small picks was hauled up by reinforced bars, pitch and other to save public property. Scores of means of ropes and baskets. Often building materials. Work-sites along them fearlessly pitted themselves soaked through with muddy water the road were scenes of bustling against the waist-deep torrents. and sweat, they worked for more activity, accentuated by the roar of Some were swept metres away, but than a month to dig a well 41 metres bulldozers, rollers, excavators and they fought their way back and con­ deep and 2 metres in diameter. The concrete mixers — all operated by tinued the struggle. Those who had Governor told us that 150 wells would Yemeni workers themselves. their feet injured by rolling stones be sunk by such simple methods in the province this year to irrigate The building of this 140-kilometre- carried on the battle without receiv­ ing any first aid. With a high sense fields planted with cotton and cereals long highway is no child's play. and to provide water for the commu­ Running across numerous high moun­ of responsibility, they finally succeed­ ed in recovering all the pitch and nity. In the Three-Year Plan period, tains and rapids, it involves more wells sunk by the peasants them­ than 800,000 cubic metres of earth­ diesel oil in drums each weighing several hundred kilogrammes. In selves will help expand irrigated land work and the construction of 32 in the province by 15 per cent. bridges. the course of all this, no one ever paid any attention to their personal We arrived in the mountainous effects and clothing which were car­ The Second Province is a major Nusah area, a forward base of the ried away by the flooclwaters. cotton producer in this country. Its construction sites, in an April shower. cotton this year showed promise. The high, steep and rugged cliffs When we met Abdulla Rahmen, a The Governor told us that a dry spell were shrouded in the hazy drizzle. responsible official of the Ministry of and insect pests hit this province last When we looked up, we saw scores Public Works of the People's Demo­ year, but the peasants under the of Yemeni workers, wearing safety cratic Republic of Yemen, we ex­ leadership of the National Front

September 8, 1972 17

Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] launched a vigorous campaign against mountains, and the desks and black­ local fishermen. Together with the them. As a result of improved boards were all made of old boards. armed forces, the island's fishermen field management, they reaped a An official of the Ministry of Educa­ are playing an important part in good cotton harvest with a total out­ tion said that before independence building the island and consolidating put of 11.6 million pounds, nearly there were only 283 schools with the coastal defence. 70.000 students located mainly in the twice as much as in 1970. Though A local official took us to a light­ towns and cities. Today, four years insect posts plagued the area again house to have a bird's-eye view of this year, the estimate was that cot­ after independence, the number of the island. The sea off the island ton output would surpass that of schools has risen to 915 and students was dotted with the white sails of 1971, thanks to the great efforts number 200.000. Most of the new fishing boats. A Democratic Yemeni made by the peasants in combating schools are in the rural areas. fighter who accompanied us on the the pests. visit said: "We are determined to Changes on Perim island We also visited a regulating dam defend the island with one hand and project in the Abyan area in the In early June we went to Perim build it with the other and rid Perim Third Province. Some 100 builders Island at the southern entrance to of poverty and backwardness." were working enthusiastically on the the Red Sea, which is an outpost * * * muddy embankment under the burn­ of Democratic Yemen's coastal Salem Robaya Ali, Chairman of the ing sun. Sixty metres long and eight defence. Presidential Council of Democrat­ metres high, the dam was designed ic Yemen, said with pride and con­ by Democratic Yemeni engineers and The fishermen on the island under fidence at the 5th Congress of the technicians themselves with an eye British colonial rule led a very miser­ National Front in March: Over one to making the most of local materials. able life before independence. There hundred years of colonial domination The dam, planned to be built in 12 was no hospital or school on the brought about appalling poverty and months, would be completed two island, not to mention cultural life. backwardness in the country, but months ahead of schedule. A govern­ It boasted only two modern buildings, such a state of affairs is like a white ment official who accompanied us one being the residence of the British canvas on which the people of Demo­ said that the colonialists used to say- commander on the island and the cratic Yemen will paint a beautiful that the Yemeni people could never other a sanatorium for the colonial and glorious picture with their indus­ build dams without their help, but officers. Since independence the trious hands. this dam, which was nearing its com­ Perim fishermen under the leadership pletion, had exploded their fallacy. of the Democratic Yemeni Govern­ The hard-working and courageous people of Democratic Yemen, now It was May when we visited a ment have reconstructed the island independent and free, are working primary school with 100 pupils in the with their own efforts. It now has energetically to create an entirely mountainous Khares area of the Sec­ a clinic and a primary school, and new landscape in their once poverty- ond Province. Built by the villagers the former British commander's villa stricken and backward country. themselves, it had wails built with has been turned into the "People's stories quarried from the rocky Palace," a place of recreation for (Hsinhua Correspondents)

(Continued from p. 6.) backing for the Vietnamese people; the vast expanse of China's territory is their reliable rear area.' We will series of facts have exploded the U.S. Government's lie for ever follow Chairman Mao's teachings, regard the about a desire for a quick end to the Viet Nam war. The Vietnamese and other Indochinese peoples' struggle as Chinese Government, and people strongly condemn U.S. our own struggle, and, by practical deeds of grasping imperialism for its acts of aggression in escalating the revolution, promoting production and other work and war. The U.S. Government must immediately stop preparedness against war, do our best to support and attacking the dykes and irrigation systems of the Dem­ help you in every way in fighting the aggressors. We ocratic Republic of Viet Nam; it must immediately resolutely support the seven-point peace proposal and stop all its acts of aggression against the Vietnamese the elaboration of its two points of the Provisional Rev­ people." olutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet In conclusion, Yeh Chien-ying declared: "The Chi­ Nam and the Vietnamese people's efforts for a peaceful nese and Vietnamese peoples are brothers and com­ settlement of the Viet Nam question. So long as the rades-in-arms going through thick and thin together. United States does not stop its aggression and the basic Both in the revolutionary years of the past and in national rights of the Vietnamese and the other Indo- today's struggle against U.S. aggression and for national Chinese peoples are not realized, the Chinese people will salvation, we have been uniting together, fighting continue to support and assist the Vietnamese and the together and winning victories together. The Chinese other Indochinese peoples in their war against U.S. people's great leader Chairman Mao has pointed out: aggression and for national salvation. This stand of "The 700 million Chinese people provide a powerful ours is firm and unshakable."

18 Peking Review, No, 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

humane and lenient policy of the ROUND THE WORLD Government of the Democratic Re­ public of Viet Nam and in compliance with the applications for amnesty sent in by U.S. pilots captured in north Viet Nam. decides to release KOREA brought about 25 preliminary meet­ three captured U.S. pilots. Full-Dress North-South Red ings between the Red Cross Societies of north and south Korea in Pan- The spokesman of the Foreign Min­ Cross Talks munjom from September 20 last year istry of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam issued a statement on Sep­ The first meeting of the full-dress to August 11 this year. AT the 20th tember 2 to the same effect. talks between the Red Cross Societies preliminary talks, the two sides of north and south Korea was held in agreed on the agenda for full-dress The statement says. As early as Pyongyang on August 30. talks between the two delegations 1968, when there was as yet no over­ The meeting adopted a joint agree­ and exchanged texts of the agree­ all solution to the Viet Nam problem ment signed by Kim Tae Hui, head of ment. including the question of release of the Delegation of the Red Cross This agreement embodies the cor­ the captured military men. the Gov­ Society of the Democratic People's rect stand consistently maintained by ernment of the Democratic Republic Republic of Korea, and Li Bom Sok, the Delegation of the Red Cross So­ of Viet Nam, pursuing a lenient poli­ chief delegate of the Delegation of ciety of the D.P.R.K. On July 4. a cy, released a number of U.S. pilots the south Korean Red Cross Society. joint statement was issued by north captured in north Viet Nam. On their way home, and even after their arri­ The two sides confirmed the five and south Korea which confirmed the three principles for the indepen­ val in the United States, those pilots items on the agenda of the full-dress expressed their gratitude for the poli­ talks which were adopted at the 20th dent and peaceful national reunifica­ tion of Korea laid down by Comrade cy of humane treatment of the Gov­ meeting of the preliminary talks be­ ernment of the Democratic Republic tween the two Red Cross organiza­ Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people. These principles are: of Viet Nam. But in 1969, the U.S. tions on June 16, 1972. The five items Government compelled the U.S. pilots are: (1) The question of reunification should be solved independently on released in July that year to put for­ 1. The question of finding out the principle of national self-deter­ ward distortions about the humane the addresses of the family members mination, rejecting the interference policy of the Government of the and relatives dispersed in the north of outside forces. (2) Great national Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, at and the south and ascertaining unity should be promoted, transcend­ complete variance with their pre­ whether they are alive or dead and ing the differences of ideology, ideal vious statements. The U.S. Govern­ notifying the results. and system, (3) Reunification should ment has also used those released 2. The question of realizing free be attained by peaceful means, each pilots in war activities against the visits and free meetings between the side refraining from the use of arms Vietnamese people and the other peo­ family members and relatives dis­ against the other side. The joint ples of Indochina. It is for this reason persed in the north and the south. statement also clearly said that the that such releases have been tempo­ 3. The question of effecting free two sides agreed upon rendering ac­ rarily suspended." correspondence between the family tive co-operation in bringing to an The statement goes on, "In pursu­ members and relatives dispersed in early success the north-south Red ance of the humane and lenient poli­ the north and the south. Cross talks now in progress amid the cy of the Government of the Demo­ 4. The question of reuniting the great expectation of the whole cratic Republic of Viet Nam, the family members dispersed in the nation. General Political Department of the north and the south according to After the first meeting of their Viet Nam People's Army has decided their free will. full-dress talks, the Red Cross to release, on the occasion of the Na­ 5. Other matters to be settled in organizations of north and south tional Day, September 2, 1972, three a humanitarian way. Korea will hold the second meeting U.S. pilots captured in north Viet Thousands of family members, rel­ of the full-dress talks in Seoul on Nam." atives and friends in north and south September 13. The statement continues. "The Korea, who have been separated for Government of the Democratic Re­ long years, have not yet reunited. To VIET NAM public of Viet Nam holds that the U.S. alleviate and banish at an early date Releasing Three Captured Government must end all involve­ the misfortunes and sufferings caused U.S. Pilots ment in Viet Nam, stop supporting by this division of a nation and to the stooge administration in Saigon, realize the peaceful reunification of According to a Viet Nam News and respect the national rights of the the fatherland as quickly as possible, Agency dispatch, the General Politi­ Vietnamese people in order to bring- the Workers' Party of Korea and the cal Department of the Viet Nam Peo­ about an early end to the war, res­ Government of the D.P.R.K. have ple's Army issued an order on Sep­ toration of peace in Viet Nam, and made unremitting efforts and tember 1 which, in pursuance of the an early return of all captured U.S.

September 8, 1972 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! 19 irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected] servicemen to their families. The ly stressed that the four islands were Prior to the rally, its participants Government of the Democratic Re­ Japanese territories and their return riding in motor cars demonstrated in public of Viet Nam draws the particu­ was the long cherished desire of the Sapporo City to call on the citizens lar attention of the U.S. Government Japanese nation. They called for the to strive for the return of the north­ to this: in the interests of the families unfolding of a national movement ern islands. of the U.S. pilots captured in north demanding the return of these Viet Nam. stop using the released islands. TANAKA-NIXON TALKS pilots to slander the Democratic Re­ Shunichi Matsumoto said: "The public of Viet Nam and to further Soviet Union wants to conclude a Joint Statement Issued the U.S. policy of aggression in Viet Japan-Soviet peace treaty and insists Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Nam." that the territorial issue has already Tanaka and U.S. President Richard "To express solidarity with the been settled. But we hold that the Nixon held talks in Honolulu, Hawaii, American people who are struggling territorial issue remains to be settled on August 31 and September 1. against the U.S. 'dirty war' in Viet and a peace treaty will be concluded A joint statement issued after their Nam, the Government of the Demo­ only when this issue is solved. This talks said that during their talks they cratic Republic of Viet Nam will hand standpoint of ours will surely win the studied the current international over the released pilots to a U.S. so­ support of the people of the world, situation, with particular reference to cial organization which has the good­ let alone the Japanese people." Asia. Both parties stressed "the will and desire to bring about an Representatives of former residents maintenance and strengthening of early end to the U.S. war in Viet on the islands appealed to the rally Nam, and to help those released not the close ties of friendship and co­ saying that Habomai and the other to be used in activities against the operation between the two countries three islands which the residents had Vietnamese people and the Govern­ (Japan and the United States)." In built up with their sweat were for­ ment of the Democratic Republic of the statement, they "reaffirmed the cibly occupied by the Soviet Union Viet Nam," the statement says. intention of the two governments to and they had lost their means of liv­ maintain the treaty of mutual co­ ing. The representatives expressed operation and security between the JAPAN the strong desire of the residents to two countries and agreed that the return to their native places once two governments would continue to Strong Demand for Return of again. co-operate through close consultations Northern Islands Liberal-Democratic Party Diet with a view to ensuring smooth and A rally of 1,500 Japanese people Members, Diet Member from Okina­ effective implementation of the from all walks of life in Hokkaido wa Prefecture Tsumichiyo Asato, and treaty." was held in Sapporo City on August Liberal-Democratic Party and Komei After referring to U.S. President 31, strongly demanding that the So­ Party members of the Hokkaido Pre­ Nixon's recent visits to the Peo­ viet Government return as soon as fectural Assembly attended this rally ple's Republic of China and the possible the four islands Kunashiri, on invitation. U.S.S.R., the joint statement pointed Etorofu, Habomai and Shikotan, The rally adopted a resolution ask­ out that both parties "shared the Japanese territories now occupied by ing the Japanese Government to con­ hope that the forthcoming visit of the the Soviet Union. clude a Japan-Soviet peace treaty as Prime Minister to the People's Repub­ Jointly sponsored by the Union for soon as possible on the premise of lic of China would also serve to the Reversion of the Northern Terri­ the settlement of the issue of north­ further the trend for the relaxation tories, the League of Residents of ern territories. of tension in Asia." Chishima and Habomai Islands, the It also adopted a declaration which In the joint statement, both parties Northern Territory Problem Counter- says that "it is our greatest regret "welcomed the recent opening of Measure Association and the Hokkai­ that the territories of our country, dialogue in the Korean Peninsula." do Council for the Promotion of Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri and The joint statement noted that Northern Problem Counter-Measure, Etorofu, have been under the illegal views were also exchanged on trade, the rally has the support of the Prime occupation of the Soviet Union for finance, development assistance, Minister's Office, the Foreign Minis­ the 27 postwar years. In order to space exploration and other matters try, the Hokkaido Prefectural Gov­ materialize a Japan-Soviet peace of bilateral relations between the two ernment and the Hokkaido Prefec­ treaty based on the settlement of the countries. tural Assembly. northern territories issue, it is our Released together with the joint Shunichi Matsumoto, President of urgent task to bring about a consen­ statement was an announcement on the Union for the Reversion of the sus of opinion among the 100 million "details of U.S.-Japan trade agree­ Northern Territories, Naohiro Doga- people of the nation and to unfold a ment," with the main contents that kinai. Governor of Hokkaido, Takeshi powerful nationwide movement. Japan will make additional purchase Honna, Director-General of the Prime We, 5 million people of Hokkaido, of U.S. goods and services to the tune Minister's Office, and Masahisa Aoki, declare that we will make every ef­ of about 1,100 million dollars to help Parliamentary Vice-Foreign Minister, fort to rouse and rally the opinion the United States reduce its trade spoke at the rally. They unanimous­ of the people of the nation." deficit.

20 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

of hydroelectric stations. A people's ON THE HOME FRONT commune in Kaoyu County in north­ ern Kiangsu has built four such sta­ tions along the canal, which provide power for processing over 5 million Grand Canal Rebuilt years, the canal-bed had narrowed jin of grain and fodder every year. considerably by the time of libera­ NE of ancient China's gigantic tion, the average width being 20-50 O projects, the Grand Canal which Prevention and Cure of metres and the narrowest part less begins in Peking and ends in Hang- Occupational Disease than 10. The role of the canal as a chow has a history of over 2,400 waterway for transporting goods had years. Nearly 1,800 kilometres long, WITH due attention to environ- therefore greatly diminished. What it winds its way through Hopei, mental sanitation and the work­ is more, some sections had silted up Shantung, Kiangsu and Chekiang ers' health, the Peking Special Steel and become roads or farmland. Provinces, linking up Peking, Tien­ Plant has achieved good results in In 1958, the People's Government tsin and Shanghai. Once a major preventing lead poisoning, a major worked out a plan to rebuild the artery of north-south navigation in occupational disease. Not a single Grand Canal. Now that the 690-kilo- China, it played a significant role in new worker has contracted this dis­ metre-long section of the canal pass­ the development of the nation's poli­ ease in the past three years. Half ing through 22 counties and cities in tics, economy and culture. of the small number of workers who Kiangsu has been dredged and The Grand Canal was built in three contracted it before have completely widened, 500-ton ships can ply up stages. In 485 B.C., the State of Wu recovered, while the rest are steadily and down easily. Some sections are recruited large numbers of soldiers being cured. navigable all the year round for and civilians to cut and build a The accent is on prevention. In 2,000-ton vessels sailing side by side. waterway linking the Yangtze to the one of the plant's workshops, lead Rebuilding the Grand Canal went Huai River. More than 1,000 years quenching was the chief cause of hand in hand with the harnessing of later, rulers of the Sui Dynasty con­ poisoning. A group comprising work­ the Yellow River, the Huai and the tinued the project on a large scale in ers, cadres and doctors was organized Haiho. Before liberation, the em­ 605 A.D. Tens of millions of labourers to tackle the problem, and workers bankments of the canal were badly worked for six years to build water­ were mobilized to discuss how to damaged. So when the high-water ways joining the Haiho, the Yellow prevent it. More than 20 proposals season set in, the canal swollen with River, the Huai, the Yangtze and the were submitted, which showed good floodwaters from the Yellow River Chientang. In 1283, rulers of the results when put into effect. Learn­ and the Huai used to overflow its Yuan Dynasty mobilized thousands ing from this experience, other work­ banks and inundate the farmland. of labourers who, after ten years of shops also took appropriate measures Responding to Chairman Mao's call work, finally completed the canal and and achieved equal success. "The Huai River must be harnessed," made its entire course navigable for Periodic laboratory tests are made the people on both banks of the canal wooden boats. Out of repair for long of urine samples from workers who have over the past 20 years dug the previously contracted the disease, Supei Irrigation Trunk Channel in and treatment which combines tradi­ northern Kiangsu and built a water­ tional Chinese and Western medicine way to divert and increase the flow is given them. As a result of active of water from the Huai to the Yang­ co-operation between the plant's tze and the sea. In addition, two medical workers and those from sluice-gates have been built to regu­ other units concerned in Peking, an late the flow of the Huai in its upper effective herbal medicine for curing reaches, and the Chiangtu Pumping lead poisoning has been found. Station has been completed to chan­ During the Great Proletarian Cul­ nel water from the Yangtze into the tural Revolution, leading comrades Huai in times of drought. With dykes of the plant's Party committee and along the canal in central Kiangsu revolutionary committee studied reinforced and heightened, the danger Chairman Mao's teaching "Attention of floods has been greatly reduced. must be paid to the safety, health The once poorly irrigated areas in and essential welfare of the workers northern Kiangsu are now criss­ in the course of increasing produc­ crossed by channels on both banks of tion and practising economy." They the canal. With gravity irrigation in mobilized the workers to criticize some areas and irrigation by electric Liu Shao-chi's revisionist line of pumps in others, grain output has "putting production first," which gone up year after year. greatly hampered efforts to combat- While rebuilding the Grand Canal, lead poisoning before the Great Cul­ the people have also built a number tural Revolution.

September 8, 1972 21 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

Like other factories and mines all over The country, the Peking Special Steel Plant has a clinic and each workshop has a health station, pro­ viding free medical service. For workers in high-temperature shops and working under other trying con­ ditions, they get high-protein diet for each shift as provided for by the slate regulations. In summer time, effective measures are taken to keep workshop temperatures down and the workers get cold soft drinks and medicines against heat prostration free of charge. Arrangements are also made for them to go swimming after knocking off. The plant has a club room, basket- bail and volleyball courts and table tennis rooms for recreation and phy­ New brocade quilt covers produced by the Nanchung Silk Mill. sical training. All the workshops are bright and airy and are linked by lakes, ditches and the sea to plant Silkworm rearing and the silk willow-lined paved roads. mulberry trees. As a result, more industry in Szechuan were fast than 71.000 mu of new mulberry declining before liberation under Good Harvest of Spring gardens were added during the last Kuomintang misrule plus landlord Cocoons winter-spring period. The Chengteh and capitalist exploitation. Produc­ administrative region in Hopei tion techniques were out-dated in the ULBERRY and silkworm rearing Province planted 5 million mulberry handicraft mills which accounted for M areas in China reported a good trees last year. the bulk of the produce. They used harvest of spring cocoons this year. The silkworm rearing areas also cauldrons and ovens for reeling, and The cocoon harvest in the major pro­ paid great attention to the work of looms were antiquated hand- or foot- ducing areas in southern China was preventing silkworm disease, which operated wooden affairs. At the the biggest since liberation; the included the careful disinfection of time of liberation, annual raw silk mulberry trees grew well, silkworm rearing rooms and equipment. output for the whole province was diseases were few and the quality of Szechuan Province popularized fine barely equivalent to two months' out­ cocoons was good. Silkworm rearing disease-resistant strains of silkworms put at the Nanchung Filature today. areas in north China were equally with a high-output potential. With mulberry cultivation and silk­ successful. Commune members are now taking worm rearing rapidly developing in active measures to ensure the healthy State purchases of cocoons in Che- the province, adequate sources of raw growth of the autumn silkworms in kiang, Kiangsu, Kwangtung, Hupeh, materials have been ensured after an effort to get a good harvest for Shantung and Shensi Provinces liberation. Output of cocoons last the whole year. showed a more than 10 per cent in­ year hit an all-time high. The state crease in the first half of this year has newly built or expanded a num­ over the same 1971 period. The in­ Szechuan Silks ber of silk filatures and mills in major cocoon-producing centres. crease in state purchase in Szechuan OVELY Szechuan brocades, satins and Anhwei was over 20 per cent. Since the Cultural Revolution started, L and other silk fabrics are being the province's silk reeling capacity While strengthening management produced at a faster rate than ever has more than doubled, and silk of existing mulberry gardens, peas­ before. A major producer of raw silk looms have increased by 60 per cent. ants in the silkworm cultivation and silk fabrics, this southwestern Many silk mills have in the main areas expanded the acreage planted province has swiftly expanded its mechanized and automated major to mulberry trees. Chekiang Province, silk industry in the last few years. production processes thanks to tech­ which produces one-third of China's It has doubled the number of silk nical innovations and self-made silkworm cocoons, is a good example. mills to 48 since the start of the Great equipment. The peasants applied fertilizer Cultural Revolution in 1966. Output several times to the more than a of both raw silk and silk fabrics for The workers are now making big million mu of mulberry trees whose 1971 was 61 times that of 1949, the efforts to raise quality and increase leaves grew luxuriantly. In addition, year of liberation, and in the first variety. Since the beginning of the they planted 80 million mulberry six months of this year they showed year, they have already put some lives. Some areas in Kiangsu Prov- a 25 and 21 per cent rise respectively dozen new types of silk fabrics on ince made use of wasteland by the over the first half of 1971. the market.

22 Peking Review, No. 36 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

(Continued from p. 4.) culture — namely, soil (deep plough­ nationalist fighter Dr. Norman ing, soil improvement. general Bethune. the Asia Department of She Japanese survey of soil and land planning), Foreign Ministry, and Teruji Aki- fertilizer (rational application of yama, Ryozo Okuda, Hiroshi Ichi- fertilizer), water (building water American Visitors hara, Toru Nakamura, Kiyoshi conservancy works and rational use Among the American guests re­ Nishimura, Kunihiro Narumi, Sakae of water), seeds (popularization of cently in China were: Writer and Yamaguchi, Fujimatsu Yamamoto, good strains), close planting (rational associate professor of history Roxanne Motofumi Asai, Atsushi Hatakenaka, close planting). plant protection H. Witke: Professor Owen Lattimore; Tomohiko Yanase and Koichi Obata. (plant protection, the prevention and cardiologist Grey Dimond; the Foreign Minister Chi Peng-fei met elimination of plant diseases and Friendship Delegation of Radical all members of the advance parly on pests), management (field manage­ Political Economists headed by Carl the afternoon of September 2. The ment), and tools (innovation of farm Riskin; the New York Lower Man­ advance party also had talks with implements) — and scientific farm­ hattan Working People's Delegation Han Hsu. Director of the Protocol ing, the acreage sown to good seed with Esther Gollobin as its head and Department of the Foreign Ministry, strains was expanded and the work Genoveva Clemente its deputy head; and responsible members of the de- of rational close planting was done the Delegation of Teachers and partments concerned. in a better way than last year. Students of University of California at Santa Cruz with Bernard A. Pathe Hiroshi Hasimoto and his party left Commune members are now ac­ as its leader and Freya A. Home and Peking for home via Kwangchow on tively delivering their public grain Curtis J. Eberhard its deputy leaders; September 5. and selling their surplus rice to the President and General Manager of state. At the same time they are the Associated Press Wes Gallagher busy tending the late rice and other Good Early Rice Harvest and Chairman of the Board of the crops in an effort to get another Associated Press Paul Miller: and After overcoming the spring cold good harvest. President of the United Press Inter­ and drought, commune members national Roderick Beaton and his and cadres in southern China reaped wife. a rich early rice harvest. Pai Hsiang-kuo Visits the Americas Now that harvesting had been NEWS BRIEFS completed, total output showed an The Chinese Government Trade increase over that of last year. The Delegation led by Minister of Foreign • Premier Chou En-lai on August major rice-producing provinces of Trade Pai Hsiang-kuo returned to 30 sent a message to Prime Minister Szeehuan, Anhwei. Yunnan and Peking on August 29 after visiting Eric Williams greeting the 10th an­ Kweichow reported a 10 per cent Peru, Chile and Canada. niversary of the independence of increase, and the output in Kwang- Trinidad and Tobago. Leaving Peking on August 1 to tung, Kwangsi, Hunan, Chekiang, visit these countries on invitation, the • Acting Chairman Tung Pi-wu Kiangsu, Shanghai and Fukien also 7-member delegation was warmly and Premier Chou En-lai on August exceeded that of 1971. In many coun­ 31 sent a message to Moamer Kazafi, ties, communes and production bri­ received by the peoples of Peru, Chairman of the Revolutionary Com­ gades, the per-mu yield was over Chile and Canada. Peruvian Presi­ mand Council of the Arab Republic 800 jin. dent General Juan Velasco Alvarado, of Libya, and Abdel Salam Jalloud, Chilean President Salvador Allende Premier of the Libyan Government, Conscientiously implementing the and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre greeting the 3rd anniversary of the policy of "taking agriculture as the Elliott Trudeau respectively received foundation," Party organizations at revolution of the Arab Republic of and had friendly talks with Pai various levels in the early rice grow­ Libya. Hsiang-kuo. ing areas strengthened their leader­ • Premier Chou En-lai on August ship in the mass movement to learn While it was in Peru, a trade 31 sent a message to Khalifa Ben from Shansi Province's Tachai Bri­ agreement was signed between Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State gade, a pace-setter in China's agri­ China and Peru. of Qatar, greeting Qatar's National culture. The policies of "from each Day. according to his ability, to each ac­ The delegation visited factories cording to his work" and "equal pay and farms when it was in Chile. • The Romanian National Men's for equal work without distinction Basketball Team, Swedish National In Canada, the delegation attended Table Tennis Team (A), the Burmese of sex" were carried out in all places. the opening ceremony of the Chinese This further stimulated the socialist Tennis and Badminton Friendship Pavilion at the Canadian National enthusiasm of the commune mem­ Delegation and Japanese Junior Exhibition in Toronto and saw the bers. Table Tennis Delegation visited Canadian Pavilion at the exhibition. China recently. And the Shanghai Thanks to the implementation of It also paid a special visit to Graven- Junior Football Team paid a visit to the "Eight-Point Charter" for agri­ hurst, birthplace of the great inter­ Japan.

September 8, 1972 2,3 Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel! irtr.org/cra IRTR Cultural Revolution Archive [email protected]

Autumn 1972 CHINESE EXPORT COMMODITIES FAIR

Jointly sponsored by The national foreign trade corporations of the People's Republic of China

From October 15 to November 15 Hai Chu Square, Kwangchow

Businessmen all over the world are welcome to visit the fair and discuss both import and export trade

Businessmen in countries or regions where China has no diplomatic representation can apply for entry visas through China Travel Service (Hongkong) Ltd.

For travel and accommodation arrangements, please contact China Travel Service (Hongkong) Ltd., which acts for China International Travel Service

Scanned and prepared by It's Right to Rebel!