Journal of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 14 February 1958

USSR EMBASSY IN THE DPRK         TOP SECRET

Nº 53 Copy Nº 3

[date off the page] March 1958

[handwritten entry: …copy to N. Torbenkov

illegible signature. 24.3.58]

[faded stamp:

…0740s

24 March 1958]

JOURNAL

of Soviet Ambassador to the DPRK A. M. PUZANOV

for the period 14 February through 1 March 1958

[handwritten: Please show to Cdes. Nikitin, Samsonov,

Andreyev, and Ognev]

N. Torbenkov

[[faded illegible endorsements]]

31 March 1958]

Pyongyang

14 February 1958

During the day I participated in a meeting with a Chinese government delegation headed by Zhou Enlai which had arrived by plane. Cdes. Kim Il Sung and Zhou Enlai gave brief welcoming speeches at the airfield. The delegation was greeted by up to 80,000 residents of Pyongyang on the way from the airfield to the residence.

In a conversation with me Polish Ambassador Siedlecki informed [me] that a new Polish member of the Armistice Observation Mission had been appointed, General Leonard Samet, who had before this worked as chief of one of the medical directorates of the Polish People's Army.

I asked, why exactly was a general who's a doctor appointed a member of the Commission?

Siedlecki said, "The truth is, I do not know". Then he added jokingly, "Evidently to treat the Americans".

In the evening I attended a welcoming rally of the Pyongyang public in honor of the Chinese government delegation an arts theater. About 1500 people were at the rally.

In a speech at the rally Kim Il Sung said that the friendship between the people's of Korea and China was formed in their war of liberation against the aggressive capitalist powers of the West and especially against the Japanese imperialists, and that Korea and China were freed from the colonial oppression of Japanese imperialists by the Soviet army. Kim Il Sung expressed firm confidence that the visit of the Chinese government delegation will be a great contribution to the cause of the further strengthening of the friendship and solidarity of the peoples of Korea and China, the cause of strengthening the unity of the socialist camp, and the preservation and strengthening of peace in the Far East.

In his speech in reply Zhou Enlai noted the persistent will and heroism of the Korean people in the struggle against aggression and in peaceful socialist development; that at the present time the Korean people are at the very forefront of the struggle against American imperialism in the Orient, firmly defending peace in the Far East. Zhou Enlai also said that the Chinese government has thought and does think that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea is the key to the accomplishment of the peaceful reunification of Korea by the Korean people themselves through negotiations, and therefore it expressed readiness to hold talks with the Korean government about the issue of the withdrawal of the Chinese people's volunteers. Zhou Enlai stressed the resolute demand of the PRC that the US and the other countries which contribute to the UN troops respond to the DPRK government's proposal in like manner and withdraw their troops from South Korea for a peaceful settlement of the Korean problem and the creation of conditions to ease the situation in the Far East.

In his speech Zhou Enlai said that the initiative of the Soviet Union, which has made a number of peace proposals, has given even greater scope to the mighty movement for peace in the entire world.

Both in the welcoming speeches on the delegation's arrival and in their own speeches at the rally Kim Il Sung and Zhou Enlai repeatedly stressed the leading role of the Soviet Union in the camp of the countries of socialism, and its initiative in the struggle to establish world peace. The rally took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and great friendship. After the rally there was a concert.