294. Editorial Note
At the 417th meeting of the National Security Council on August 18, 1959, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles commented on China during his briefing on significant world developments. The relevant portion of the memorandum of discussion by Robert H. Johnson, Director of the Planning Board Secretariat, August 26, reads as follows:
“Resuming his briefing, the Director of Central Intelligence said that the intelligence community was puzzled by developments in Communist China. The Communist Chinese had been out of the world press for some time now, and were probably anxious to assert their claims to great-power status by taking some sort of action. The top leaders have been out of view for about seven weeks and have been meeting somewhere outside Peiping. They have apparently been reviewing both domestic and foreign policy. They may be re-assessing the ‘giant leap forward’ and attempting to determine whether or not to slow down. They are no doubt concerned about the adverse effect of floods and droughts upon the crops in many areas. October 1 is the 10th anniversary of the regime, and there may be something special by way of announcement or action at that time. The peasants in the communes are still dismayed, and Tibet is a problem. [4-½ lines of source text not declassified] The fact that a number of Chinese Communist Ambassadors have been recalled tends to confirm the view that foreign policy is under review. There is no change in the military situation in the Taiwan Straits area indicating a resumption of hostilities, but it would be possible for the Communists to do so on short notice. [2-½ lines of source text not declassified] Though the Sino-Soviet alliance is firm, there is not a complete identity of interests. While Khrushchev was in Poland he criticized the Chinese communes. The Chinese Communists have supported plans for the exchange of visits between the President and Khrushchev, but CIA does not believe that the Chinese are happy about this exchange—they have been left out too many times. Khrushchev may need to find time for a personal exchange of views with Mao in the near future, or at least to send some top Soviet leader, such as Mikoyan, to China.
“Mr. Dulles noted the Chinese Communists’ loss of prestige in South Asia. There had been the Indian reaction to Tibet; [2-½ lines of source text not declassified] Rangoon was also irritated over Chinese stalling on the border issue. Mr. Dulles concluded by again stating his belief that something was cooking in Communist China.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)