The telegram relays a request from Mao, conveyed via Chinese Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai, seeking Stalin’s “personal clarifications” of his stand on a potential North Korean action to reunify the country. Mao sought the information after hearing a report from Kim, who had arrived that day in the Chinese capital for a secret two-day visit and clearly claimed that he had received Stalin’s blessing.
May 14, 1950
Ciphered Telegram No. 8600, Vyshinsky to Mao Zedong
This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation
MFA USSR
Tenth Department
Top Secret
Making copies is prohibited
Special no. 550
113
Issuing No. 8600
Received on 4:10 am, 14 May 1950
Sent on 5:30 am, 14 May 1950
CIPHERED TELEGRAM
_______________________________________________________
Destination: PEKING To Whom: SovAmbassador
____________________________________________
SPECIAL
For Mao Zedong.
“Cde. Mao Zedong!
In a conversation with the Korean comrades Filippov [Stalin] and his friends expressed the opinion, that, in light of the changed international situation, they agree with the proposal of the Koreans to move toward reunification [pristupit k obiednineniiu]. In this regard a qualification was made [pri etom bilo ogovoreno], that the question should be decided finally by the Chinese and Korean comrades together, and in case of disagreement by the Chinese comrades the decision on the question should be postponed until a new discussion. The Korean comrades can tell you the details of the conversation.
Filippov [Stalin].”
Telegraph the fulfillment [ispolneniie telegraf’te].
VYSHINSKY
5 copies
14 May 1950
Copies:
1. Comr. Stalin
2. Comr. Molotov
3. Comr. Vyshinsky
4. Comr. 10th department
5. Comr. Copy
The cable contains Stalin’s personal response to Mao's 13 May telegram. Using the code-name “Filippov,” Stalin confirms his agreement with the North Korean proposal to “move toward reunification,” contingent on Beijing’s agreement.
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The document, from the Russian Presidential Archives, was given by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to South Korean President Kim Young-Sam during the latter’s visit to Moscow in June 1994, and was made available to CWIHP by the South Korean Embassy in Washington. A copy was subsequently found in RGASPI, f. 558, op. 11, d. 334, ll.0055.
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Original Uploaded Date
2012-12-04
Type
Cable
Language
Record ID
115976
Original Classification
Top Secret
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Leon Levy Foundation
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