TNAG-0335-FCO40-371-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 119

CONFIDENTIAL

policies which coincide in certain areas with those

what we espouse.

And while this coincidence may be

fortuitous, in the sense that we are not responsible

for it, the openings for us (and the benefits in terms of

Sino-British relations) cannot be overlooked.

20.

As self-proclaimed apostles of Marxism-Leninism the

view the Chinese take of the world is quite different

from our own. It follows that they will pursue policies,

such as the support of revolutionary movements in the

developing countries which are distasteful to our

convictions and hostile to our interests. The Chinese

like to describe themselves as motivated by principle.

There is however patently a conflict between some of

their principles. They talk of adhering to the five

principles of Peaceful Co-existence yet they also

support the principle of "proletarian internationalism"

under which they reserve the right to encourage

revolutionary movements abroad, even in countries with

which they maintain diplomatic relations. There is also

the fact that like all people deeply committed to an

ideology they feel the need to justify in terms of

principle actions which in fact spring from considerations

of interest and expediency. This notwithstanding,

recent trends in Chinese foreign policy point towards

a period during which the Chinese will put greater

stress on the five principles of Peaceful Co-existence

than on the principle of "proletarian internationalism"

In addition to the factors referred to in paragraph 16

aqbve, there are therefore good reasons for believing

that we can engage the Chinese in fruitful discussion

of matters of general international interest or/and

to transact useful business with them on matters of bi-

/lateral

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN