Although unassuming in manner, President Tsiranana commands the respect and admiration of the Chinese people for his farsighted statesmanship. His is one of the few newly independent nations to bar Communist saboteurs, disguised as diplomats, from chances for infiltration. During last year's United Nations General Assembly session, he staunchly supported free China's cause. His prestige and popularity did much to rally other African nations in the showdown battle with the Communist bloc over the so-called Chinese representation issue.
Such leadership is rare, especially among the emerging Afro-Asian nations. Many of these countries gained their independence after bloody struggles with the old colonialists. A few of them even turned to the Communists for help. Not so with the Republic of Malagasy. Under the guidance of their patriotic President, the Malagasy people achieved their independence speedily and in peace, thereby preserving strength for the building of their new nation. Some have attributed President Tsiranana's wise leadership to the fact that he comes from a rural area and is long on horse sense and short on impetuous bluster.
Another factor making for a successful visit is the friendship that has long existed between the peoples of two countries. Although separated by an ocean and sub-continent, the two established contact more than a century ago when Chinese emigrants settled in Madagascar. Today there are about 8,000 Chinese residents among the 5.5 million Malagasy people. Many Chinese settlers have married into Malagasy families and are actively participating in the economic development of the host country. The Republic of China also had the satisfaction of being among the first to accord the Malagasy Republic diplomatic recognition land to support Malagasy for membership in the United Nations.
Friendship has been further strengthened by frequent exchange of official visitors and by fishery cooperation that promises to lead to full-scale economic undertakings.
Supported by these favorable factors, the first chief of state from the African region and his wife arrived in free China April 3 to receive a rousing welcome from the entire Chinese nation. Even the unpredictable weather cooperated. It stopped raining barely 20 minutes before the presidential plane touched down at the Sungshan Airport at 10:20 a.m.
21-Gun Salute
President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek were there as the first couple of the Malagasy Republic walked down the ramp. Greetings over, the Chinese leader introduced the ranking government officials. Then the presidential couples stepped onto the reviewing stand for military honors. After a 21-salvo gun salute and the playing of the national anthems of the two countries, President Tsiranana inspected the honor guard in the company of President Chiang.
The two leaders rode together to the Grand Hotel, President Tsiranana's headquarters during his visit. Along the three-mile route, some 100,000 flag-waving citizens cheered lustily. Streets were decorated with portraits of Tsiranana and Chiang and national flags of the two countries. Newsreels recording the scene were shown in many theaters that same night.
In the evening President and Madame Chiang gave a state banquet in honor of the Tsirananas and their retinue. The Chinese leader thanked President Tsiranana for Malagasy support for China at the United Nations. He pointed out that China's fight against Communism is not only for her own national survival, but also to re-establish world peace and security.
Factor for Peace
Responding, President Tsiranana stressed understanding between nations as an important factor in world peace. He noted the similarities of the Chinese and Malagasy peoples and mentioned the early settlement of the Chinese in Madagascar. He expressed his admiration for President Chiang's consistent fight against world Communism.
"Your firm objection to Communism, which flouts basic human rights and dignity, is enough to shorten the long distance between our two countries," he said.
President Tsiranana's second day in China was busy and enjoyable. After laying a wreath at the Martyrs Shrine in Taipei, he motored to inspect farmers' homes and the Shihmen Dam project. A farmer himself, he was especially at home with country folks. At the home of Li Kui, a share-cropper turned self-tiller after free China's successful land reform program, the Malagasy leader inspected every corner of the house. He visited the kitchen, the hog shed and felt the cotton quilts. He bombarded Li with questions and took down the farmer's answers in a notebook. He also recorded what he saw with his midget camera. So engrossed was he in conversing with the farmers that he accidentally stepped on the toe of a child. Turning to the startled child, he said in French: "Excuse me."
Farmer Li was told that the visitor himself was once a peasant. "I was a cowherd before I was 12 years old," the Malagasy leader confided. To back up his claim to affinity with agriculture he showed farmer Li that he knew how to operate a power tiller. "If he had not been accompanied by so many important personages, I would certainly have thought him a gentleman farmer," Li told friends afterward.
Inspection of Dam
From the village, the Presidential party drove to the Shihmen Dam, now in final stages of completion. Project officials briefed the Malagasy leader on the various functions of the multi-purpose dam. He told his aides to take down the information for future reference. "It is a worthwhile project," he commented.
Back in Taipei that afternoon, the visiting chief of state and President Chiang witnessed the signing of a Sino-Malagasy treaty of friendship. The treaty was intended to further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries and their peoples and will serve as a memento of President Tsiranana's visit.
Signed by Foreign Minister Shen Chang-huan for the Republic of China and Albert Sylia, minister of foreign affairs for the Malagasy Republic, the pact specifies mutual trust and understanding, respect for the United Nations Charter in solving international disputes and exchange of diplomatic representatives. The treaty will come into force immediately after the exchange of instruments of ratification at Tananarive, the Malagasy capital.
On the morning of April 5 President and Madame Tsiranana winged south to begin their three-day inspection of the Chinese armed forces and tours of industrial installations. First stop was Kangshan, Chinese Air Force base, where the presidential couple witnessed an aerial show of the Thundertiger precision fliers. The visiting chief of state photographed almost every formation, and explained to Madame Tsiranana with both words and gestures how the flight patterns were formed.
President Tsiranana shook hands with every member of the CAF team and congratulated them warmly. "With your skill and courage, you are capable of winning every battle," he said. Then he received three former Communist pilots, now serving in CAF ranks, and posed with them for a picture.
In the afternoon, the presidential couple drove to Kaohsiung. They were greeted by tens of thousands of people in the port city. Dressed in sports clothes, President Tsiranana visited an aluminum plant and a plastics factory. He chatted amiably with the workers and made snapshots with his ever-ready camera.
The sprightly President and his lady toured Kaohsiung and did some shopping before going to the city's Grand Hotel for dinner. At the dinner party Mayor Chen Chi-chuan presented the presidential couple with an ancient vase and a leather handbag as a gesture of respect from the 400,000 citizens of the city.
The President was in high spirits. A teetotaler of more than 10 years standing, he warmed up to the occasion by emptying two glasses of Shaohsing wine, a mild Chinese beverage known the world over for its delicate fragrance.
After dinner, ranking officials of the two governments sat together for amicable discussion on further economic cooperation. The conferees agreed that much can be done.
The next morning the presidential party visited a fish market in Kaohsiung. By coincidence, a tuna trawler fresh from Malagasy was marketing its catch. Happy to see the product of his native waters, President Tsiranana posed for pictures.
The Malagasy first couple then drove to the naval base at Tsoying. There they witnessed a beach landing exercise staged by naval and marine units. They were especially impressed by the skill demonstrated by the marines in climbing steep cliffs. They ended their Tsoying visit by inspecting 20 warships with spit-and-polish Chinese sailors lining the decks at attention.
Shortly after noon, President and Madame Tsiranana flew to Taichung, seat of the Taiwan Provincial Government. Governor Chow Chih-jou and Provincial Assembly Speaker Huang Chao-ching and hundreds of officials of the Provincial Government greeted the couple. More than 10,000 students and townspeople turned out.
After a luncheon party given by Governor Chow the state guests were briefed on Taiwan's land reform and industrialization program. President Tsiranana listened attentively. "I hope to see each of the eight provinces in my country as developed as Taiwan," he said.
Tallest Buddha
Pressed for time, the presidential couple canceled a scheduled visit to the famous Palace Museum at nearby Wufeng. Instead, they drove north to Changhua to have a look at the world's tallest seated Buddha. Waving and smiling to a crowd, they took numerous pictures.
In Changhua city itself, a large throng turned out to greet the state guests as they drove through the streets for a quick inspection. President Tsiranana stepped from his car three times to pose with the gaily dressed dance troupes and to shake hands with the people. Late in the afternoon the Tsirananas returned to Taichung to be dinner guests of Speaker Huang at the Provincial Assembly building. With energy left over despite the day's hectic activities, the visitors took a stroll along Taichung streets. Dressed as tourists, they sauntered along with only an interpreter and a police officer accompanying them. But they were quickly recognized. Shops volunteered special discounts for whatever they wished to buy.
On April 7 the Tsirananas witnessed a war game staged by the Armored Corps and watched an emergency flight demonstration by CAF F-104 Starfighters. The Malagasy President also received the emblem of the Chinese armed forces from Lt. Gen. Wego Chiang, commander of the Armored Corps, as a symbol of respect from all Chinese men in uniform.
In the afternoon President and Madame Tsiranana emplaned for Taipei for their last night in free China. They spent the afternoon hours sightseeing and shopping in Taipei. In the evening they gave a state dinner at the Grand Hotel in honor of President and Madame Chiang. At the banquet President Tsiranana said the successful land reform program in Taiwan would serve as a valuable model for that in the Malagasy Republic, which is similar to Taiwan in many attributes. Lauding the Chinese armed forces for their high combat capability, he described them as "the most loyal defenders of the free world." He also expressed hope President and Madame Chiang will pay a visit to the Malagasy Republic.
Chinese Response
In response, President Chiang reaffirmed free China's determination to safeguard freedom and human dignity. He said the Chinese armed forces and people will continue to do their utmost, with undaunted spirit, to defeat Communist aggression and subversion in order to assure world peace and security. He expressed belief that President Tsiranana's visit would greatly contribute to the promotion of friendly relations between the Republic of China and the Malagasy Republic.
The two leaders toasted each other and wished good health and prosperity to the two countries.
During their last morning in Taiwan, the Catholic President and his wife attended a Sunday Mass at the Grand Hotel. A press conference fol lowed, at which the Farmer-President appeared in a plastic, cone-shaped hat, standard equipment for Taiwan farmers. Outlining impressions received during his visit, he said the Republic of China is a "strong" country. This, he added, accounted for the fact that the Communists dare not attack
Taiwan.
Noting that Taiwan and Madagascar are far apart geographically, President Tsiranana added that the two peoples are close in mind and heart. He praised the Chinese people for progress in Taiwan and said humbly that his country has much to learn from the Republic of China. He endorsed the idea that Madagascar and Taiwan be proclaimed "sister islands."
He disclosed that he had discussed fishery cooperation with Chinese officials and said the Malagasy government will send two agriculturists to Taiwan in May to study rice cultivation. He also invited Chinese technicians to visit Madagascar to see farming there.
The first couple of the Malagasy Republic then drove to the residence of President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek to bid them farewell. Together, they motored to Sungshan Airport to receive the cheers of another huge crowd lining the route leading to the airport. There the Malagasy first couple said final goodbye to President and Madame Chiang before they boarded the Civil Air Transport's Mandarin Jet for Hongkong.
Thus ended the historic state visit of President Tsiranana. He left behind the unmistakable impression among the Chinese people that he is a man to be depended upon in time of need.
In the joint communique issued just before President Tsiranana's departure, the two chiefs of state stressed that "racial discrimination is definitely a thing in the past and should never be allowed to repeat itself. The basic human rights of mankind must not be allowed to be stripped from all fellow men."
Call for Vigilance
The two Presidents pointed out that the danger menacing the free world is ever present and that vigilance must be actively maintained to safeguard human dignity and national sovereignty. Although they did not mention Communism by name, they apparently referred to Communist aggression in urging the free nations to be vigilant.
The communique said the two Presidents exchanged views on the international situation in general and matters of mutual concern in particular in an extremely cordial and understanding atmosphere.
With a view to consolidating brotherly friendship and close cooperation between the Chinese and Malagasy peoples and in commemoration of the historical meeting between the two chiefs of state, the two governments had signed a treaty of amity and friendship, the communique concluded.