761.93/12–2149
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 6, 1950.]
The Ambassador has the honor to enclose a copy in translation of the speech35 read by Mao Tse-tung immediately after his arrival at the Moscow Yaroslavl railway station on December 10 [16], 1949. The text of Mao’s speech was published in all Moscow newspapers on December 17: it was broadcast by Radio Moscow at 11:30 p. m. on December 16.
In his brief remarks at the railway station, Mao Tse-tung unmistakably conveys the impression that he comes to Moscow representing a great nation, bringing greetings from the people of one great nation to the people of another. While paying tribute to the leadership of Stalin in world communism, Mao avoids obsequiousness. There is an impression in western diplomatic and press circles in Moscow that the Chinese communist leader tactfully indicated that his country does not expect to be relegated to the satellite relationship which has been allotted to the eastern European governments. While this impression may be the result of wishful thinking, it is apparent that Mao did not indulge in the type of fulsome homage which has become so typical of the European satellite leaders.
- Not printed.↩