The Press THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1969. The Party Line In Peking

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 14

The Press THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1969. The Party Line In Peking

The long-delayed congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which extended over three weeks in April, has had little publicity in the newspapers of the Western world. There were no supplied statements and only brief occasional summaries were broadcast. Most Western newspaper correspondents had to report the congress from Hong Kong. Even Chinese newspapers, it seems, printed only what was supplied. The text of the party’s new constitution was printed in Peking. No details were given of a speech by Chairman Mao Tse-tung. The broadcast merely referred to it as “ important ”. It would certainly have been important, if only because of the difficulties encountered in convening the conference at all; the last one was held in 1956. The constitution seems to be aimed chiefly at entrenching Mao’s authority. His “ Thought ”, for example, has now become absolute dogma, not to be departed from in any circumstances, but intended apparently to amplify and illumine pure Marxism, as distinguishable from the heresy of Russian revisionism.

There is a useful qualification in the requirement that a full congress of the party shall assemble every five years—“ except in special circumstances ”. Flexibility, it seems, is the key consideration, especially as the cultural revolution is to continue. Vice-Chairman Lin Piao, confirmed now as Mao’s successor, made no secret of that in his report, the only statement to which publicity appears to have been given. He referred to it, indeed, as “ a life-and- “ death struggle ”, made necessary b/ the need to smash revisionism, retrieve the powers usurped by the “ bourgeoisie ”, make effective the “ all-round “ dictatorship of the proletariat ”, and consolidate the economic basis of socialism. In China, even allowing for the progress made in stamping out the old conservatism, completion of the revolution —if it is ever achieved—may still be many years ahead. This is implied, if not actually indicated, in the composition of the new politburo, comprising 21 full members and four alternate members. At least six who were formerly prominent in the party heirarchy were replaced, plainly because they were thought untrustworthy.

Lin Piao hinted at the reasons behind their exclusion when he said that the “ restoration “activities” of Lin Shao-chi (the former Head of State) and his “ gang ” could no longer be tolerated. The extent of the purge that went on during the revolution is indicated by the fact that only one quarter of the members of the 1956 committee remain in office. The new central committee is much larger than that of 13 years ago—l7o members and 109 alternate members, compared with 97 members and 90 alternates in 1956. But its composition is thought by observers to represent a compromise rather than a free choice—an attempt possibly to keep the old military and provincial leaders under scrutiny, to be controlled if not fully converted to Maoism. The secrecy which shrouded the conference proceedings may be explained by the need to conceal persisting divisions. It need not be doubted that dismissals will continue, as it may appear to be necessary, despite the deletion from the draft constitution of a clause insisting on the need for constant purging of the party ranks.

Time will show what progress is being made towards consolidation of the regime on the basis of

ideological unity, as demanded by the constitution. There is at least some encouragement to be had from Lin Piao’s suggestion of a move away from isolationism. China, he said, hoped to work towards peaceful co-existence with other countries of different social systems, with mutual respect for sovereignty and the principles of non-aggression and noninterference. He even hinted that the question of border adjustment with Russia might yet be reopened. His Government, he indicated, had not rejected Moscow’s proposal for new talks, but was still considering what reply it would make.