Mr. de la Mare
CONFIDENTIAL
161
bu, 28,60,67,
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ANG 9.60.41.
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CHINESE NATIONAL DAY
The celebration of the Chinese National Day in Peking was on a smaller scale than last year (Peking telegram no. 108) and seems to have produced remarkably little of significance. As was to be expected, Liu Shao-ch'i (the Head of State) and Teng Hsiao-p'ing (the Secretary-General of the Party) did not
appear; neither did seven other senior leaders who have been under strong criticism since last year. Amongst the leaders who did appear, however, there were no significant changes in the seniority ratings, and a number of those who have been under criticism attended the parade on 1 October. They included
Ch'en Yi, the Foreign Minister, although his appearance was probably window dressing rather than an indication of a return
to power.
2.
The 1 October People's Daily editorial and the main speech
of the day given by Lin Piao both reflected the present Cultural Revolution policy which is to emphasise the urgency of forming
alliances amongst the various "revolutionary" organisations and
Both the the imperative need to end "struggles by force". editorial and Lin's speech spoke of the Cultural Revolution in
somewhat defensive terms and sought to show that it had had no
adverse effect on agricultural or industrial production. The
way in which this year's National Day has been treated is in
marked contrast to the enthusiastic praise for "revolution"
COUE TIEMNUTT AT.
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