CIA INTERPRETATION OF PEOPLE'S DAILY EDITORIAL ON INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-33-5-16-2
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: May 3, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-33-5-16-2
4P W
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
May 3, 1973
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
SUBJECT: CIA Interpretation of People's Daily
Editorial on Indochina
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER
FROM: WILLIAM L. STEARMAN
Yesterday you expressed interest in a recent CIA analysis (Tab A) of a
People's Daily editorial (Tab B) which allegedly indicates that Peking
"is urging greater moderation on its allies. " Actually this editorial
is fairly consistent with the line Peking has taken on Indochina for the
past 2 years or so and represents nothing very new. While CIA has
lifted some quotes to prove its point, other quotes from the same
article could be used to prove the opposite. For example, the article:
-- Praises the military progress of the "CPNLAF" (Khmer Communist
insurgent force), noted with satisfaction that Phnom Penh is "surrounded
on all sides" and that Sihanouk's trip to Cambodia has "speeded up the
total collapse of the traitorous Lon Nol cliquey';
-- Called upon the three countries in Indochina to "wage a serious
struggle" and expressed the conviction that "through strengthening unity,
supporting each other and persisting in struggle, the three Indochinese
peoples will certainly be able to realize their sacred national aspirations."
presently engaged in the "struggle."
It should also be noted that the article's repeated praise of "Indochinese
amity" indirectly supports Hanoi hegemony in Indochina, since Peking
must be well aware of Hanoi's control of those Laotians and Cambodians
MORI/CDF
C05141339
CONFIDENTIAL
GDS by Auth Stearman, 1979
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1. 25 Apr 73 . A.2
PRO
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
At present, great changes have taken place in the situation in Indochina. With
the signing of the iris agreement on Vietnam, the United States has been made to
wi?thdravr Its, armed forces from Vietnam and terminate its war of aggression in Vietnam.
With the signing of the Agreement on Restoring Peace and Achieving National Concord
by the two sides in Taos, conditions have been oreatad for the Lao people to settle
their internal affairs free from foreign Interference. The patriotic armed forces
and people of Cambodia have eaontirsatally won inspiring and resounding. victories in
their valiant fighting to punish the traitorous Lon N'ol clique. We are firmly
convinced that the heroic C :mbodia, Lao and Vietnamese peoples, tti:rther enhancing
their unity and supporting and assisting each other, will surmount all difficulties
and obstacles in their road of advance and realize their respective noble national
aspirations.
The Chinese people and the three Indochinese peoples are close brothers, sharing
weal and woe. We Chinese people have always regarded your struggles as our own
struggles and your victories our own victories. We will forever stand by you and
resolutely support and assist your just cause until complete victory.
'rung Piwwu, acting chairman of the Peoples Republic of China;
Chou En lai, premier of the State Council of the PeopleQS Republic of China
Peking, April 24, 1973.
Peking NCNA in English 0135 GMT 25 Apr 73 B
[l'ext] Peking, April 25, 1973 (HSf1H1JA)-- he PEOPLE'S DAILY carries an editorial
today entitled: "Three Years of Solidarity, Fighting and Victory". The editorial
reads in full:
Today is the third anniversary of the Indochinese Peoplest Summit Conference. In
the excellent situation of the splendid victories won by the three Indochinese peoples
in the war against U.S. aggression and for national salvation, the Chinese people
extend with boundless joy the warmest congratulations to the fraternal people of
the three countries in Indochina.
The Xndoohiness Peoples' Sinai` Conference of great historic significance was a
conference of solidarity, fighting and victory of the three Indochinese peoples.
This conference was held under the circumstances when the traitorous Lon No! clique
launched the reaetionar~,r coup doetat in Cambodia and the United States expanded the
war of aggression in Indochina. The leaders of the four parties of the three
Indochinese countries participating in the conference exchanged views on the situation
in Indochina then and the tasks of common struggle facing the people of the three
countries. They reached a complete consensus of views and issued a joint declaration.
The conference held high the vivid banner of the war against U.S. aggression and for
national salvation and called on the three Indochinese peoples to strengthen unity,
fight staunchly, defeat the enemy, and defend the sacred national rights so as to
make Indochina a zone of independence and peace which really accords with the
aspirations of the people of the three countries and with the interest of Southeast
Asian and world peace. [The phrase "defeat the enemy" was omitted in the versions
of the editorial carried by Peking NCNA Domestic Service in Chinese at 0705 GMT
on 25 April and Peking Domestic Service in Mandarin at 0030 GMT on 25 April.)
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-33-5-16-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-33-5-16-2
1. 25 Apr 73 A3 PRC
lX(ERNArIONAL AFFAIRS
The conference demonstrated the common resolve of the three Indochinese peoples to
unite against imperialism, played a vigorous role in bringing about the victorious
? development in the war against T.S. aggression and for national salvation waged by
the vietiamese, Lao and Cambodian people, and made an important contribution to the
anti-imperialist struggle carried out by the people of all countries in the world.
Inspired by the banner of the Indochinese Peoples' Summit Conference, the Vietinamese,
Lao and Cambodian people, have in the past three years, through supporting each other
and fig!-hting in unity, smashed all the military and political schemes of the U.S.
aggressors and their lackeys, and won one great victory after another. On the
Vietnam question, the "Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam".
was finally siggrned, forcing the United States to terminate the war of aggression
against Vietnam and the troops of the U.S. and its allies to withdraw completely from
South Vietnam. On the Lao issue, the "Agreement on Restoring Peace and Achieving
National Concord in Laos" has also been signed. The signing of the two agreements
has provided conditions for the Vietnamese and Lao people to settle their own
problems themselves without foreign interference. In Cambodia, the war against U.S.
aggression and for national salvation has developed aictoxi.uzly, the People es
National Liberation Armed Forces have grown stronger and s .rongss in the course of
fighting, the liberated zone has expanded and eonsoliuatcd steadily, and the
prestige of the Royal Government of the National Union of i;a.tib,,d'= has risen daily
at home and abroad. But the traitorous Lon No]. oliq:+L~ w iiJ a ut:ahcd the reactionary
coup dtetat has picked up a stone only to drop it on i%s ....i. fee; and is boxed up
in Phnom Penh surrounded on all sides. Cambodian Rau"--' ce ,' ate Sandech Norodom.
Sihanoukts successful inspection tour of the Cambodian li..eratoa zone not among ago
has vigorously inspired the militant will of the Cambodia.. peoZ:le to resist U.S.
aggression and save their country and speeded up the ~ctu_ . a1.w~:sw of the traitorous
Lon Nol clique.
The victorioua strug,6i;. the Imioaaaiaiese peoples in the pas'. three years has
fully borne out that t1u- _Lruggle o. the Vietnamese, "o "m"nodia.. peullc; is
an entirely just str gZi. _nd th.t, unLty is unbraalie., the `r natiwnal aspiration;,
to strive for the realiz' .oz. of r* .., independe.xct,, sov :eig,ity, unity ana
territorial integrity aaa'i u hit....._ ec. b? no force. In ,-I'Aina questi.ut, can only
be solved by the three Lldoenine:.. paoples themseir't;L u_. bout foreign in6erference.
Any foreign interference in InduL..,lri4 i.ill certain.t i ..
The three Indochinese peoples are now iontixa ng the c icrt for the complete
attainment of their noble objectives. 4ltLau h the i-aeis agreement and the Vientiane
agreement were signet two or three months ago, but tt,e ceaaefaaae in Vietnam and Laos
has remained unstable and many Important provisions c. the two agreements have not
been fully implemented all because of the acts of the U.S. Government and Saigon
authorities. In Cambodia, the U.S. has still not stopped its support to the
traitorous Lon Nol clique and its bombing raids on the Cambodian liberated zone, and
Saigon puppet troops have even invaded Cambodian territory once again. Facts have
shown that the people of the three countries in Indochina have to wage a serious
struggle still in order to safeguard peace in Vietnam and Laos, to strictly
implement and thoroughly carry out the Paris agreement and the Vientiane agreement,
and to materialize completely independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial
integrity in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
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1. 25 Apr 73 A4 PRC
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
The Chinese people and the three Indochinese peoples are close eamradesainlarms and
brothers. TrAe Chinese people have always fully sympathized with and given whole-
hearted support'to the just struggle of the three Ir lo9hinese peoples whose splendid
victories in the struggle against U.S. aggression and for national salvation are
also a tremendous inspiration and support to the Chinese people. We firmly demand
that the U. S. Government and Saigon authorities stop all their acts in violation of
the ?Paris agreement and the Vientiane agreement and that the U.S. Government stop
bombing and all its military interference in Cambodia. We resolutely maintain that
the three. Indochinese peoples should solve their own problems themselves without
any foreign interference. We are deeply convinced that, through strengthening unity,
supporting each other and persisting In struggle, the three Indochinese peoples will
certainly be able to realize their sacred national aspirations.
Peking NCNA in English 1622 GMT 24 Apr 73 B
[Text] Peking, April 24, 1973 (HSIINHUA )..-Minister Xuan That', member of the
Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers party and head of the
delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the Paris
conference on Vietnam, arrived here by train this afternoon on his way home.-
Present at the railway station to greet him were Kean Piao, member of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China and head of the International Liaison
Department of the CCP Central Committee; Han Niena-lung, vice-foreign minister; and
leadin-.g members of departments concerned Shen Chien, Hsiao Huang, Liang Feng and
Mao Pao-Chung.
Present were also Ngo Thuyen, DRV ambassador to China, and embassy officials; Tran
Binh, charge doai5:aires a.I. of the Embassy of, the Republic of South Vietnam in
Peking, and embassy officials; Toch ICzam Doeun, ambassador of the Kingdom of
Cambodia to 01ina; and S. Sosorbaram., Mongolian ambassador to China.
This evening, Comrade Keng Piao gave a banquet in honour of Comrade Xuan Thuy and
the other Vietnamese comrades-in.-arms.
Proposing toasts at the banquet, both Comrades Keng Piao and xuan Th r expressed
the hope that the revolutionary friendship and militant unity of the Chinese and
Vietnamese people.n would grow with each passing day.
[Text] Peking, April 25, 1973 (HSLVUA).mSamdeeh Norodom Sihanouk, head of state and
chairman of the National United Front of Cambodia, met here today with Minister Xuan
Thuy, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers
Party and head of the delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of
'Vietnam to the Paris conference on Vietnam, and gave a luncheon in his honour.
Present were Ngo xhuyen, DRV ambassador to China, and Prince Sisowath Methavi, director
of the office of the Cambodian head of state.
[Peking NCNA in English at 1227 GMT on 25 April reported that Penn Nouth, chairman of
the Poiltical Bureau of the Central Committee of the National United Front and prime
minister of the Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia, that morning met with
xuan Thuy. Present on the occasion were Ngo Thuyen and Chea San, minister of the
Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia.]
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