Chou request
NZPA Washington Secret State Department documents, released after nearly 30 years, show that Chou En-Lai secretly asked the United States in 1949 to help China steer an independent course between the West and the Soviet Union, but the overture was rejected. The documents, declassified and released by the State Department’s historical section, said Mr Chou had contacted United States officials in Peking and asked that his message be transmitted “to the highest American authorities on top-secret level.” According to the cable
Chou felt the United States should aid China because:
“(1) China is still not Communist and if Mao’s policies are correctly implemented may not be so for a long time; “(2) Democratic China would serve in the international sphere as mediator between Western powers and the U.S.S.R. “(3) China in chaos under any regime would be a menace to peace (in) Asia and the world.” The cable said Mr Chou emphasised he spoke “solely for certain people personally and not as a member (of the Communist) Party.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, 14 August 1978, Page 8
Word Count
170Chou request Press, 14 August 1978, Page 8
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