Chapter 108 Khrushchev’s first visit to China in 1954

Journalist: “What are the pros and cons of Stalin’s death in 1953 for you?”

Mao: “When Stalin died, I was both happy and sad. I was happy that no one was covering my head, and I became the communist boss, so I could do whatever I wanted. When Stalin was alive, I had to look at his face and I couldn’t be reckless. The new democracy, which Stalin supported, was actually his idea, but it was not his idea to overthrow Chiang Kai-shek of the Kuomintang. He actually wanted me to participate in the coalition government of the Communist Party, not advocating that I seize power. Maybe he was afraid that I would become a Tito and not be able to control him. He also had a good impression of the KMT, Chiang Kai-shek visited the Soviet Union in the 1920s and proposed to join the International Communist Party, Chiang Ching-kuo grew up in the Soviet Union, and Stalin always supported the Communist Party cooperation.

The first time I went to Moscow to celebrate his birthday at the end of 1949, I was deliberately left out. 1950s Liu Shaoqi Zhou Enlai proportional, planned development of new democracy that set, in fact, is precisely Stalin’s idea, he did not tell us to rush into socialism communism, so I can not be hard to rush. When he died, I was able to let go of my set, Liu Shaoqi without the support of Moscow, Liu Zhou are bending over backwards to listen to me.
Worry is the problem of personal worship, especially in February 1956, Khrushchev exposed Stalin’s secret report came out, I also with Stalin, engaged in personal worship, purge killings that set exactly the same, criticizing Stalin’s personal worship, I was afraid of dragging me down, in fact, is also quite a big impact, the party 8th Congress in 1956, the venue will only hang Party flag, the leader statue is gone. The party constitution removed ‘Mao Zedong Thought’ and the reference to ‘socialist climax’ was also removed. In 1958, I held the second meeting of the “8th Congress” and brought 1500 delegates back to Beijing to overturn the 1956 ‘8th Congress.’ After 1958, the personal cult of me was not only unaffected by the criticism of Stalin, but also became more and more intense.

Journalist: “When Khrushchev came to visit in 1954, how was he to you?”

Mao: “Very good! On September 29, 1954, Khrushchev led a Soviet delegation to China for the 5th anniversary of the National Day, and Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and I went to the airport to greet him in a very friendly atmosphere. Khrushchev’s first visit to China swept away the unequal attitude towards China in the past when Stalin was alive, which made me feel relieved and extraordinarily happy.

Khrushchev offered to give up the secret clauses of the 1950 Sino- Soviet treaty, which only benefited the Soviet Union. He also gave up Soviet rights and interests in the Northeast, Xinjiang, returned the port of Lushun without compensation, withdrew his troops, and gave up his equity interests in the Middle East Railway. All these were unthinkable in Stalin’s time. Khrushchev’s generosity made me feel upright.”

Journalist: “What else did Khrushchev help you with?”

Mao: “Khrushchev also expanded the scope of supply on top of the original aid construction projects, adding another 15 new projects. He also signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation, including helping China build its first atomic energy reactor and cyclotron for the peaceful use of atomic energy. Machinery and equipment for 20,000 hectares of land farms were also given. Another 520 million Ruble loan was provided.”

Journalist: “Wow, that’s a lot of gifts?”

Mao: “Yes, Khrushchev also offered to accept one million Chinese workers to develop forest resources in Siberia. This would have been beneficial to both sides, but I deliberately mentioned the height of the capitalist colony, the use of cheap labor, to the height of the damage to national pride to talk, causing both sides unhappy. Later, a low agreement was reluctantly reached, and we first proceeded to send 20,000 people on a trial basis. Khrushchev later ran out of enthusiasm, and only a few thousand people actually went there, and it was over.”

Journalist: “Khrushchev is better than Stalin, right?”

Mao: “Much better. Stalin was stingy and only signed 50 projects in 3 years, but once Stalin died, Khrushchev signed 91 projects in 3 months, a total of 41 enterprises.
1954.9. Khrushchev decided to return Lushun and Dalian, Voloshilov particularly opposed. Khrushchev had a special meeting to discuss and refute Voloshilov, so that Voloshilov reluctantly signed and agreed.

In 1955, the Northeast China-Chang Railway was returned, it is a huge asset. The return of the military base in Lushun and Dalian port, a huge project, with a total of 300,000 Soviet troops stationed there.

In 1954.10.2, the first time I met with Khrushchev, he mentioned that he was ready to withdraw the troops from the port of Luta and return the port facilities without compensation. I was afraid that the United States would use the opportunity of the withdrawal of Soviet troops to launch an attack on China, and Khrushchev said: I do not believe that the United States will do so. Finally, I agreed, and I asked Zhou Enlai to offer to leave the artillery weapons without compensation, and He said to sell them at the lowest price. The two sides issued a communiquéto complete the transfer by May 31, 1955.
As a result, the handover was completed on schedule on May 31, 1955, with 9 airfields, 64 bombers, 45 naval light ships, 120 anti-aircraft guns, and 1,700 vehicles ‥‥a total value of 400 million RMB.

The return of the military port of Luta on the initiative of the Soviet Union showed the sincerity of maintaining China’s sovereignty.

In the 1950s I started a wave of learning from the Soviet Union, criticizing pro-Americanism and worship of the United States. Some people criticized me for saying that the Chinese people had stood up, but now they were “falling down”, just standing up and falling down again. I did not think it was necessary to be pro-Soviet and proposed to learn Soviet politics and British and American technology. In order to show my pro-Soviet attitude, I received a few Soviet experts who came to Zhongnanhai at my home.

From 1954-1959, the Soviet Union gave me massive economic aid, lending $1.3 billion, $400 million for the economy and $900 million for arms, which was actually higher than that. Foreign estimates totaled $2.2 billion, and there were even overestimates as high as $3 billion. In short, the Soviet aid was very large, 80% for the military. Aid to construction totaled 360 projects.

In general, Khrushchev’s first visit to China was the best period of Sino- Soviet relations, a honeymoon period, so to speak. The negative effects of the Stalin era were eliminated and Khrushchev ushered in a new era, a new climate.

By 1964.1. I said to the Japanese Communist Party that only 6% remained to be repaid, and I wanted to speed up my departure from the Soviet Union”.