A sound reason for the long delay in convening the Chinese Communists' "Fourth National People's Congress" came to light as the new constitution—already approved by the Chinese Communist Party—was brought to the surface on Taiwan. The Chinese text was obtained on the mainland, translated into English and distributed throughout the world.
This document would be unique among organic laws of the world in naming both a dictator (Mao Tse-tung) and his successor (Lin Piao). The document also seeks to fasten Mao thought on the mainland to replace the 5,000-year-old Chinese way of life.
For months there have been rumors that the constitution was under consideration at the grass-roots level. It appears that the proposed supreme statute has met with subtle opposition and attempts at sabotage. This is a struggle which may lie behind Peiping's warnings that the "cultural revolution" is far from over and, in fact, has scarcely begun. (Details and a contrast of old and new constitutions will be found in the "Mainland" department of this issue.)
The Mao constitution includes an article on the militia. This worker-peasant force was moving back into prominence after virtual suppression at the height of the "cultural revolution" struggle provincial radio broadcasts indicated that a new drive was under way to rebuild the militia as an important part of "war preparations." However, this new militia will be under the army's thumb. In a broadcast September 29, Radio " Hupeh said the goal is a joint defense system but with the army at the helm.
Red Flag provided some details of the gradual resumption of mainland higher education. "A fierce struggle has been going on," said the periodical, "between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie around the question of who will transform and triumph over whom." On the one side are professional educators and administrators, on the other the Maoists, former Red Guards, army and what is left of the party.
Proletarians have already won out at technical schools. In the colleges of arts and sciences, Red Flag said, bourgeois teachers still want to retain such "out-of-date" subjects as history and the classics instead of teaching the thought of Mao. This tendency must be struggled against, said the article. "Old-line" teachers have to accept the guidance of "new line" peasant-worker-soldier educators who will be standing beside them to see that deviationism does not emerge.
"So long as they pay close attention to their political re-education and re-orient their professional knowledge, the majority of the original teachers will be able to continue to teach and make contributions to proletarian education and socialist culture and science," Red Flag continued.
Implementation of the new education will not be easy. There are not enough peasant-worker-soldier teams who have any idea of what education is all about. Bonafide teachers are reluctant to return to their risky line of work. Consequently, only a few colleges and universities have been reopened. In these, the "new line" teachers outnumber the "old line" professionals, which means that little is taught except Mao thought.
Disillusionment with education and life under the Chinese Communists is leading to an increasing number of attempts to escape. Young people of Kwangtung who can swim brave the waters of Deep Bay in a desperate dash to Hongkong. Those who succeed say that only a few can get close enough to the border to enter the water. Travel in the direction of Hongkong is rigorously proscribed.
The millions of young people who have been rusticated throughout the mainland are supposed to teach the people of the countryside. Instead, most have looked down on the peasants as country bumpkins and tried to get back to the city. Some who fail band together in anti-Mao and anti-Communist units. Those who reach the cities are forced to live as virtual outlaws, since they cannot qualify for residence and rations. Mao has succeeded in planting a time bomb in the middle of the slave system he sought to make safe for his thought.
Aware of this and other dangers, the Maoists are now undertaking a campaign to "make Mao thought the master of the family." Stories of family disagreements and divisions are presented in propaganda media to show that only Mao—the "head of the family"—can restore unity and bring into being a brand of socialism that will doom the last trace of individualism and make every person a slave of the regime. One of these tales is of a 6-year-old who wanted her mother to make a new school bag. A brother whacks her over the head because if she had studied her Mao thought, she wouldn't wastefully desire a satchel and especially not a new one. A family Mao-think session supposedly sets the toddler right.
Following is the record of Chinese mainland and peripheral developments in the period from October 20 to November 19:
October 20
No end is in sight for the "cultural revolution," said a Red Flag article reprinted in both People's Daily and Liberation Army Daily. Chinese Communist Party members were warned that only the "starting point" had, been reached for a "continued revolution" which will be "extremely wide in scope 'and profound in depth, penetrating into political, economic, cultural and all other spheres to touch on the people's souls."
"We still cannot claim," the article said, "to have completely cleaned out party members' non-proletarian, erroneous tendencies and thoughts such as their small group interest, factionalism, independent thinking, subjectivism, refusal to take risks, shirking difficult and heavy responsibilities and non-militant good-fellow mentality."
Summing up, the article said: "On the journey of ideological revolution, there are only filling stations but no resting stations."
External Affairs Minister William McMahon told the Australian House of Representatives that the Chinese Communists had refused to give any information about the whereabouts or fate of Francis James, a journalist who was last seen in Canton in November of 1969.
Peiping announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Equatorial Africa, a former Spanish colony of less than 11,000 square miles which became independent in 1968.
Canada said it would send an advance trade delegation to Peiping immediately with a permanent mission to be dispatched in January.
October 21
Red China was said to be seeking railroad equipment in Europe because it could not meet the demands of its own rail network and construction of the 1,200-mile line between Zambia and Tanzania. London sources said orders for locomotives were expected to total 100 to 110 together with rolling stock and other equipment.
Productive capacity of the Shanghai machine-building industry includes sets of machinery, "New China News Agency" boasted. Among machines listed were a 120-ton pure oxygen top-blown converter and 4,000-ton horizontal pressing and casting machines.
London said the Chinese Communists were inviting India to discuss the reopening of full diplomatic relations. The approach was reported made by Kuo Mo-jo, at the Nasser funeral in Cairo.
October 22
Prime Minister Eisaku Sato of Japan met with Britain's Prime Minister Edward Heath at the United Nations and asked for possible assistance in Japanese contacts with Peiping. Prime Minister Heath agreed.
A six-man Japanese Socialist delegation left Hongkong for Peiping to discuss "struggles against American imperialism" with "premier" Chou En-lai.
London said that the Chinese Communists would deliver two squadrons of MIG 17 fighters to Tanzania. Peiping was reported to have already supplied five gunboats to the Tanzanians.
Hongkong sources said Peiping had ordered Malaysian Communist leader Chin Peng to triple his forces to 6,000 men. Chin Peng leads guerrillas in the Malaysia-Thailand border area.
A newspaper in Hongkong said Red China was expected to release David Johnston, a British banker detained in Shanghai since August of 1968. Johnston was said to be seriously ill with a kidney complaint.
October 23
Specialization in labor cannot be permitted in Red China, said an article in People's Daily. "Rigid barriers between tracks must be broken down," said the article, because they make industries inflexible and hold back production. Such barriers were blamed on the "revisionism" of Liu Shao-chi.
Tokyo said that Prime Minister Sato did not ask Edward Heath to become an immediate intermediary with the Chinese Communists. The Japanese said Sato was merely preparing for the future.
Hongkong's release of four Chinese Communists held for participation in the 1967 riots was expected to lead to the freeing of some of the six Britons imprisoned without trial since the "cultural revolution." Hongkong gave the four their liberty on medical grounds.
October 24
Yeh Hsiang-chih, director of the Second Section of the Kuomintang Central Committee, said the "cultural revolution" is still continuing in various forms. He said that not a single Communist Party organization had been set up at the provincial level since the Ninth Party Congress a year and a half ago. Party activities had been resumed in only a 10th of 2,359 counties.
NCNA said Japan's military ambitions dwarf those of pre-World War II times. The attack was made in a commentary on remarks of Yasuhiro Nakasone, director-general of Japan's Defense Agency, who had just returned from a visit to the United States.
Peiping sent a delegation to North Korea to participate in the 20th anniversary observance of Chinese Communist entry into the Korean War.
Yugoslavia dispatched a trade delegation of 21 headed by Stojan Milenkovic, deputy chairman of the Federal Economic Chamber, to the Canton trade fair and Peiping.
A Hongkong dealer said the Chinese Communists were exporting 60,000 snakes a month to the colony at US$1.60 each. Snake soup is popular among Cantonese in the winter.
Hongkong sources said 2 million refugees from the mainland were living in the colony and another 300,000 in 16 countries of the East Asian area. Other figures were Macao, 86,000; India, 50,000; South Vietnam, 45,000; Nepal, 22,000; Saudi a Arabia, 16,000; Laos, 9,000; Pakistan and South Korea, 4,000 each; Japan, Philippines, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Sikkim, 1,000 each.
A British ship's officer, Peter Crouch, detained in Shanghai since April of 1968, crossed the border into Hongkong looking "thin, pale and tired."
October 25
Bangkok sources said a Chinese Communist-built road leading from Yunnan through Laos to within 20 miles of Thailand's northern road terminus would be completed by the end of the year. The 75-mile all-weather highway runs from Muong Sai to Pak Beng. It connects with other Peiping-built roads to Cheli in Yunnan and Dien Bien Phu in North Vietnam.
Peiping's slowly reopening universities have been "proletarianized," according to a report from the mainland. Students entering "Tsinghua University" in Peiping average 20 years old and have done productive work in the countryside for three years. Family origins are 45 per cent workers, 40 per cent peasants and 15 per cent soldiers. Political and ideological criteria are crucial in acceptance of students.
Tomomi Narita, chairman of the central executive committee of the Japanese Socialist Party, told Kuo Mo-jo and others attending a banquet in Peiping that his party would strive for formal Tokyo-Peiping relations. Kuo, a vice chairman of the "National People's Congress," urged the Japanese to join in the struggle against "their common enemy, U.S. imperialism."
October 26
Evidence seeping out of the mainland indicated reorganization of the Peiping regime to cut the number of "ministries" by approximately half. There were 40 before the "cultural revolution" started in 1966. Military men still occupy controlling positions. Of 40 "ministers," 20 were purged and five others have died in the last two years, two reportedly at the hands of the Red Guards. It is not clear how many of the remaining 15 are still at their posts.
Arriving in Hongkong, John M. Fraser, Canada's charge d'affaires-designate to Peiping, said ambassadors would be exchanged within six months. Fraser and four others were en route to Peiping.
October 27
Hongkong sources said the star of General Huang Yung-sheng, the Chinese Communist chief of staff, was rising. NCNA listed Huang's name ahead of Mao's wife, Chiang Ching, among those attending ceremonies to mark the Chinese Communist entry into the Korean War. Huang was said listed fifth after Mao Tse-tung, Lin Piao, Chou En-lai and Kang Sheng.
In the aftermath of recognizing Peiping, the Canadian government announced sale of 98 million bushels of wheat worth US$160 million to the Chinese Communists. Delivery will take place over a year's period. It was the largest sale of its kind in Canadian history.
Chinese Communist sources admitted trouble in Tibet. Radio Lhasa said "class enemies" had launched subversive activities in Western Tibet.
October 28
Tokyo sources said Russian trade with the Chinese Communists had declined 95 per cent in the last 10 years and that free world countries had stepped into the gap as a supplier of the Peiping regime. The 1959 volume of trade between Moscow and Peiping was estimated at US$2,054 million compared with US$56 million in 1969. The latter figure was said to be only 1.47 per cent of Chinese mainland trade.
More than 200 freedom-seekers reached Hongkong in the latter part of October by swimming three-mile wide Deep Bay. Police sources said most of those escaping were under 30 and from Kwangtung communes near Hongkong.
Peiping withdrew from the International Volleyball Association because the Republic of China was admitted.
October 29
Mainland reports said workers of a state farm near Canton rioted in September, burning down a warehouse and killing some 20 Communist cadres. The dissidents seized a number of weapons and fled to mountain areas. The Tungping farm employs about 5,000.
Interior Minister General Praphas Charusathicn said the Chinese Communists were financing Thai guerrillas with money routed through Hongkong and Laos, where the Peiping regime has an "embassy."
Hongkong sources said Red China's most recent nuclear test misfired and that Dr. Chien Hsueh-shen, an American-trained scientist, had been called to Peiping to explain. Red China detonated its 11th nuclear test in the atmosphere October 11. Dr. Y. H. Kwok was said to have died in Peiping's 10th nuclear test.
Nine members of a British pro-Peiping group completed a 2,500-mile tour of the Chinese mainland, the first permitted since start of the "cultural revolution."
London and Peiping were reported near agreement on establishment of telephone connections.
October 30
After complaining for several months that the Japanese were reviving militarism, the Chinese Communists concluded that the Japanese were only "paper tigers." "Like all reactionaries," said NCNA, "the Japanese militarists always overestimate their own strength and underestimate the strength of the people. They are advocates of the theory that weapons decide everything and have blind faith in their gunboat policy."
The Philippines government expressed concern over Italian recognition negotiations with the Chinese Communists. Manila said that recognition would affect the stability and security of the Asian-Pacific area.
Vienna sources said Chou En-lai was expected to visit Romania before the end of the year.
A six-man Tanzanian delegation left Peiping for Hanoi after a visit of one month. The leader of the group was Colonel Ali Mahfudh, chief of operations and training of the Tanzanian defense forces.
October 31
Peiping boasted of the use of a "new chemical"—702—to raise agricultural production. In claims reminiscent of the "great leap forward" period, the Chinese Communists said 702 would grow more of almost anything and do it faster and better. Apparently 702 is a fertilizer. Radio Canton admitted that 702 had been discovered in the West, where it was regarded as a "pinnacle of science."
The Republic of China's Ambassador to the United States Chow Shu-kai said the Chinese Communists were waging diplomatic guerrilla warfare against Americans. "The object is to create and separate the United States and the Republic of China," he said.
Austrian Foreign Minister Rudolf Kirchschlaeger said his country may establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communists. Austria has not recognized either Taipei or Peiping.
The New York Times urged a "two-China initiative" on the Nixon administration. "The present American stance," the paper said, "seems certain to result in a year or two in the admission of Peiping and the exclusion of Taiwan. That would be unfortunate."
November 1
Peiping described the 25th anniversary session of the United Nations as "cheerless and chilly." The NCNA broadcast said many heads of state went to New York to "denounce U.S. aggression."
A new economic aid agreement was signed between the Chinese Communists and North Vietnam.
Canadian Charge d'Affaires John Fraser arrived in Peiping. The Canadian group was staying at a hotel pending acquisition of embassy property. The Chinese Communist mission apparently has not yet left for Ottawa.
November 2
Rome sources said Italian recognition of the Chinese Communists would be for cold cash and have nothing to do with ideology. Italy sold US$27.5 million worth of goods to the Chinese mainland in the first half of 1970 and was said to be hoping for much bigger orders. Japanese sources said recognition was imminent.
Hongkong newspapers said several top Chinese Communist commanders of the Korean War period had been purged, including Peng Teh-huai, Teng Hao, Yang Yung, Yang Cheng-wu, Yang Teh-chih, Fu Chong-pi and Wang Ping.
Peiping dusted off an old propaganda proposal for a world summit conference to agree on the destruction and banning of all nuclear weapons. Made years ago by Chou En-lai, the proposal was repeated in a joint communique by Peiping and members of a visiting Japanese Socialist Party group.
November 3
Chou En-lai said Peiping would agree to a non-aggression treaty with Japan in exchange for diplomatic relations.
Austria's foreign minister announced plans to undertake recognition negotiations with Peiping.
The "Albanian resolution" to seat the Chinese Communists and expel the Republic of China was introduced at the United Nations. Sponsors were Albania, Algeria, Cuba, Guinea, Iraq, Mali, Mauritania, Pakistan, Congo Brazzaville, Romania, Somalia, Southern Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Yemen, Yugoslavia and Zambia.
November 4
Returning to Hongkong from Canton and Peiping, John Keswick, the chief of an Anglo-Chinese Communist trade group, said the mainland regime seemed more concerned about Russia than about the United States. He said there were many physical changes in Peiping, including an underground railway not yet in use that could double as a bomb shelter.
November 5
Taipei sources said the draft of the new Chinese Communist "constitution" gives lifetime tenure to Mao Tse-tung and names Lin Piao as his successor. The document, already approved by the Chinese Communist Party and awaiting the rubber stamp of the "National People's Congress," fixes Mao's thoughts on the mainland as the "guiding principle of all work carried out by the people."
Hongkong said the people of the mainland are so fed up with Mao thought that Communist ideologues are substituting the term "philosophy." This was identified as Mao thought in watered down form.
Representative Otto Passman of Louisiana said the United States will never be forced into establishing diplomatic relations with the United States.
Kyodo News Agency said Japan was sounding out the United States and other U.N. members on creation of a special agency to deal with China representation.
Tides of Deep Bay between the Chinese mainland and Hongkong washed up more bodies of freedom seekers who failed to make it. The total was 28 in a little more than a month. Refugees arrested in October totaled 308, most of whom had swum the three miles. Hongkong authorities ordinarily release those arrested after a brief period of detention.
November 6
The Republic of China severed relations with Italy because of Rome's decision to enter into diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communists.
NCNA accused the Indian government of new and serious provocations against the Peiping regime. The Chinese Communists denounced Republic of China-Indian Friendship Week in New Delhi and accused "some Indian reactionaries of acting with the tacit approval and connivance of the Indian government." Peiping also was unhappy about a Tibetan youth conference at Dharamsala, where demands were made for the independence of Tibet.
November 7
A high-ranking Viet Cong defector told U.S. intelligence officials in Saigon that the Communists were financing South Vietnam war operations by selling Peiping-supplied American dollars on the black market and distributing Cambodian marijuana to U.S. servicemen. He said that the Chinese Communists had offered to send troops after U.S. forces entered Cambodia last spring but were asked by Vietnam Communists to send money instead.
NCNA said Peiping sent a message of "warm congratulations" to Russia on the 53rd anniversary of the October revolution. The message reportedly told Moscow that "differences of principle" should not prevent cooperation between the two Communist regimes.
Discussing his three-week trip to Red China, former French Premier Maurice Couve de Murville said the Peiping regime was giving more attention to the outside world.
La Stampa of Turin said the Chinese Communists had told both Italy and Canada that they opposed Western "Maoists." Peiping was said to have charged that such extremists were in the pay of capitalists.
Hongkong told of stepped-up Chinese Communist border patrols as the surge of mainland freedom seekers continued. The count of October escapees rose to 350 and the number of those who died in the attempt to 32.
November 8
People's Daily made new threats to seize Taiwan by force in its comment on establishment of diplomatic relations with Italy. The paper assailed what it described as "two Chinas" plotting of the United States.
Japanese business and industrial circles expressed concern about Italian competition for Chinese mainland trade. They said Italian business circles prodded the Rome government into recognition of Peiping. Rome and Peiping have already exchanged trade offices.
November 9
Moscow sources said former "deputy foreign minister" Liu Hsin-chuan would arrive in November as the first Peiping envoy in four years. Pravda called for settlement of Moscow-Peiping differences and a return to friendly, neighborly relations.
Peiping announced it was sending US$80,000 worth of canned food to the Philippines for relief of typhoon victims.
The U.S. State Department said its contacts with Red China were maintained "to deal with the situation in the most realistic way." No new talks were scheduled at Warsaw, a spokesman said.
Five more bodies of freedom seekers from the Chinese mainland were found in Hongkong waters.
November 10
Chou En-lai told a Peiping rally that "world domination by the superpowers (United States and Russia) must be and can be shattered." He said the "struggle against U.S. imperialism" is mounting daily even in the American backyard of Latin America.
Chinese Communist leaders boycotted the October revolution reception at the Soviet Embassy in Peiping but turned out in large numbers for exhibition table tennis matches between Red Chinese and North Vietnamese players. At the afternoon reception, only the chief and deputy chief of Peiping border negotiators and a vice minister of foreign trade showed up. Appearing for the ping pong competition in the evening were Chou En-lai, the wives of Mao Tse-tung and Lin Piao, and "marshal" Chu Teh, who rarely attends social events.
Travelers from Canton said only one light bulb a year is issued to residents of that city. The bulbs are of poor quality. Those who want electric light must buy a bulb on the black market at a fantastic price or ask relatives in Hongkong for one.
President Yahya Khan of Pakistan arrived in Peiping for a five-day visit.
Japanese newspapermen, meeting American counterparts at an International Press Institute conference in Honolulu, expressed doubt that Red China would be able to launch a nuclear war or undertake military aggression in East Asia. Toshikazu Kase, former Japanese ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States should establish relations with Peiping so that Japan could do likewise.
November 11
Representatives of the Chinese-American community in New York bought ads in the New York Times and Daily News to ask U.N. delegations to vote against the admission of Red China.
November 12
New Zealand's chief delegate to the United Nations criticized Peiping and France for continuing atmospheric nuclear testing "in total disregard of world opinion."
A New York Times ad paid for by the Committee of One Million called for public support of the campaign to keep Red China out of the United Nations.
Reports from the Chinese mainland said Moscow and Peiping soon would sign their first trade agreement since 1967.
Wang Tse-chou, a "correspondent" of NCNA in Katmandu, Nepal, was reported as missing since November 1. Police said he might have escaped to Taiwan. The U.S. Embassy denied he had sought refuge there.
Bidding for arms aid, President Yahya Khan of Pakistan said the Chinese Communists were seeking peace. He met with Chou En-lai and armed forces "chief of general staff" Huang Yung-sheng.
Peiping ordered the flag at Tien An Men flown at half staff for two days in a gesture of mourning for Charles de Gaulle. Tung Pi-wu and Chou En-lai went to the French embassy to express condolences. Mao and Lin Piao sent wreathes and Mao a message to Madame de Gaulle. This was an unprecedented show of demonstrativeness in the death of a free world leader.
November 13
Moscow announced trade talks were under way with the Chinese Communists. A mission headed by I.T.G. Grishin, a deputy foreign trade minister, arrived in Peiping for the negotiations.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said India was prepared to enter into border negotiations with the Chinese Communists.
Japanese trade with the Chinese Communists reached US$543 million for the January-August period and was expected to total about US$800 million for the year.
Lhasa Radio told of a newly opened exhibition to persuade Tibetans that they had been oppressed by the Dalai Lama and Panchen, Lama. Tibet was depicted as an advance outpost in the struggle against "American imperialism, Soviet revisionism and Indian reactionaries. "
NCNA attacked West Germany for economic expansion in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Aid plans are designed to sell German goods, the agency said, and benefit the "West German monopolist class."
November 14
Peiping pledged additional economic assistance to Pakistan. The amount was not announced. President Yahya Khan met with Mao Tse-tung and invited Chou En-lai to visit Pakistan.
November 15
Japanese sources said the Peiping regime's trade with 24 non-Communist nations was up 18 per cent to US$1,502 million in the first six months of 1970. Exports were put at US$698 million, up 1.7 per cent, and imports at US$804 million, an increase of 42.8 per cent.
Afghanistan signed an aid agreement with Peiping. The Chinese Communists will supply £ 1 million worth of consumer goods to be sold in Afghanistan. Proceeds will be used for irrigation, fishery and tea plantation projects.
Arrivals from the mainland said that writers are forbidden to discuss love, romance or freedom. Chiang Ching was reported to have stirred up a new campaign against those who write to advance the "counterrevolutionary literary and art black line."
November 16
Budapest announced that Peiping would not attend the Hungarian Communist Party Congress. Albania also declined an invitation.
A picture of manual labor in a "thought reform" camp was published in the Hongkong Standard. Obtained from Canton, the photograph shows prisoners digging out the side of a cliff.
November 17
French sources said Chinese mainland industrial output was running 30 per cent ahead of last year and had equaled the volume of 1965.
Canada's mainland trade was down from the C$186 million of 1968 to C$149 million in 1969. Sale of Canadian wheat to the mainland declined by C$38 million.
Returning to Hongkong from Peiping, Bob Dawson, a trade commissioner, said Canada would open its embassy in the Chinese Communist capital in January.
NCNA admitted the disappearance of Wang Tse-chou, a "correspondent" in Katmandu, Nepal. A spokesman said Wang had been reprimanded for "impudence" and ordered to return to Peiping November 1. He disappeared and the Chinese Communist spokesman said it was feared he had been "kidnaped." Peiping's military attaché, who is the security officer, was charged with breach of discipline and ordered to Peiping.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Green said in a television interview that the United States would stand by the Republic of China. At the same time, he added, changes in progress on the Chinese mainland could lead to less extremism and improvement of relations with Washington.
November 18
Moscow said Visily Tolstikov, the new Russian ambassador to Red China, had met in Peiping with Chou En-lai and Liu Hsin-chuan, the Chinese Communists' newly named envoy to the Soviet Union.
November 19
Hongkong reports said the Chinese Communists were confiscating gift parcels sent to the mainland by relatives. The Chinese Reds insisted that the gifts be donated to "refugees in Indochina." Peiping did not permit the entry of gift parcels when the "cultural revolution" was raging.