Note on the Conversation between the Romanian Party and Government Delegation led by Ion Gheorghe Maurer and Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev

N O T E

During the discussion with Khrushchev, the following additional points were made in addition to those mentioned above.

[Khrushchev] told of his numerous meetings with Mao Zedong. He said that during one of these discussions, [Mao] expressed his dislike for one of Zhukov’s declarations, which stated that in case the Americans would attack China, the Soviet Union will come [to China’s] aid. Khrushchev said that Zhukov’s declaration was made on the basis of the decision of the CC CPSU Presidium. Mao Zedong said that it was not a just [useful] declaration. If the Americans would attack China, they would get stuck. The Chinese will carry out a prolonged war. The Soviet Union must not get involved, it must stay out of it. Thus the Soviet Union will remain untouched and this would also be good for China.

Khrushchev said he does not agree with that point. Mao Zedong also explained another theory, which Khrushchev described as strange. If the Americans would attack the Soviet Union, the Soviets should not fight them on the western border; rather they should withdraw to the Urals for 13 years. In this way they would tire the Americans, and then, together with the Chinese, they would begin their annihilation.

Khrushchev said that Mao Zedong is completely amiss with the concepts of modern warfare.

Khrushchev also told of his discussions with Mao Zedong concerning the popular communes, [and] the issue of foodstuffs. [Khrushchev] told us that, at the time, he told Mao Zedong only that they have been tried in the Soviet Union and that they did not prove to be to useful. That is why the Soviet Union will not apply these reforms.

When he returned to the Soviet Union [from his trip to China] Khrushchev told the CPSU CC Presidium that there is a catastrophe underway in China.

Repeatedly he said that Mao Zedong is sick, crazy, that he should be taken to an asylum, etc.

Among other things, he said that the main cause of thisis Chinese nationalism. To augment his point, [Khrushchev]said that throughout the entire Chinese war of liberation, MaoZedong did not even once visit Moscow. This he qualified asproof of Mao Zedong’s nationalism. [Underlined in the original; Translator’s Note: Corneliu Manescu, wrote on the back of the document: This cannot be considered as proof of nat[ionalism].

During the dinner, and before [the delegation’s] departure, [Khrushchev] repeatedly sent cordial salutes for Cde. Gheorghe GheorghiuDej and the other members of the party leadership.

10.X.1964

GE. 6. ex.