Telegram number 1508-10 from Claude Chayet

Beijing, 16^th December 1964

Received …………at 12h32

Telegram number 1508-10

I am referring to my dispatch number 337/AS of 10^th December on the first 14 replies made to the Chinese proposal for nuclear disarmament.

Aside from the favorable comments from M. Gromyko in front of the United Nations’ General Assembly, six new replies have reached President [sic] Zhou Enlai since 10^th December: Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Yemen, Burma and Romania.

M. Maurer’s message is particularly noteworthy to the extent that it endorses without any restrictions Beijing’s views and provides them with the same support than expressed by Marshal Kim Il Sung, M. Mehmet Shehu or M. Pham Van Dong. It does not go as far as mentioning the United States but only alludes to the threat of the ‘imperialist aggressor groups belonging to the various military blocs’.

The speed with which the message was published – four days after being sent – is also remarkable since as a whole, the other responses were only made public 10 to 15 days after being sent. Marshal Kim Il Sung’s reply, dated 29^th October, and which until now had been the fastest to become known, had only been divulged on 4^th November, or a delay of six days.

We should also note that M. Gromyko’s speech to the United Nations took place on 7^th December and that M. Maurer signed his reply on 11^th December. The Romanians possibly waited for the Soviets to express themselves before sharing their views.

Signed Claude Chayet