TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 118

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Cypher/Cat A

Pélium to 8GA

CONFIDENTIAL

ہے

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno. 108

CONFIDENTIAL

2 October 1967

Addressed to F.0. telegram No. 108 of 2 October Repeated for information to:

Hong Kong, Washington, POLAD Singapore, Moscow.

My telegram No. 105, 106 and 107.

National Day Celebrations were on a more limited scale and muted key than last year. Speeches were few and routine and contained nothing to upset our impression of a slackening in the cultural revolution.

2. On the internal situation although speeches. emphasised the need to continue the work of repudiating and discrediting the handful in authority they show a tendency to refer to victory as having been already achieved in the cultural revolution. A recent instruction of: Mao "Combat selfishness and repudiate Revisionism" now unveiled for the first time seems likely to be guide-line for further ideological education but apparently carried by variety of units at home and not with nation-wide significance as last year. Repudiation of handful in authority is also to be corbined with "struggle-criticism transformation" in each unit with objective as unity on a new ideolo- gical basis. This seems to be a programme for more indoctrination without the turmoil of this last year.

3. Lin Piao's speech was unusual in turning quickly to economic effects of the cultural revolution and claiming that it had not upset the national economy. National Day joint Editorial by Peoples. Daily,Red Flag and the Liberation Army daily shows similar concern with the economic aspects and gives impression that the next step in the Revolution will be consolidation rather than breaking new ground.

4. As regards foreign policy Chou En-lai's speeches at the banquets for visiting delegations throughout last week were strongly anti- Soviet in tone but at National Day banquet and rally nothing new or startling was said on this topic. There was no reference to Hong Kong or even in usual terms to the overseas Chinese generally. Given the occasion this is a significant and encouraging omission.

5. The turnout of the leaders seems intended, as on 1 May, to emphasise the isolation and small numbers of the notorious handful. Liu Shao Chi, Teng Hsiao Ping,.Tao Chu, Peng Chen and the group associated with the latter were absent. On the other hand Chu Teh, Chen Yun and Chen Yie were present though this is almost certainly window dressing and not a marked return to real authority. Detailed comment on personalities follows by bag.

CONFIDENTIAL

/F.0.