Chinese mark anniversary

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33655, 3 October 1974, Page 13

Chinese mark anniversary

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PEKING, October 2. The Peking night sky exploded in a spectacular display of fireworks tonight in celebration of the twenty-fifth anmiversary of the People’s Republic of China.

But Chairman Mao Tsetung and the Prime Minister (Chou En-lai), guiding lights of the Communist State since its inception, did not turn up for the dazzling display. Mr Wang Hung-wen, number three in the hierarchy, who was only 14 when the Communists seized power in 1949, joined 100,000 people in the Peking workers’ stadium to watch the show —the highpoint of festivities. The presence of Wang and the absence of Chairman Mao, aged 80, and Chou, aged 76, served as a reminder that the reins of leadership must before long pass into younger hands as the old guard fades away. Chairman Mao has shunned public appearances for three years. Chou, fighting a bout of illness, appeared at a reception last night but quickly returned to hospital. The Soviet Union marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic with a stinging attack accusing the Maoist leadership of trying to split the world Communist movement.

An authoritative article in the Communist Party newspaper, “Pravda,” charged Chairman Mao Tse-tung with pursuing nationalist, greatPower policies aimed at destroying the unity of the world Socialist system. “Our Communist Party and the Soviet Government decisively reject the schismatic policv of the Maoist leaders, their slanderous inventions aimed against the Socialist commonwealth, and their attempts to distort Marxism-Leninism.” “Pravda” wrote.

While the arguments were not new, observers considered that Soviet press articles to mark this year’s an'niversary were notably more

critical thait in previous years on the so-called ideological “crimes” of the Peking leadership.