Telegram, Zhou Enlai to Mao Zedong and Others, Regarding the Situation at the Third Restricted Session

Chairman [Mao Zedong], Comrade [Liu] Shaoqi, and report to the Central Committee:

(1) On the 19th, the restricted session on the Indochina issue continued to discuss whether the Cambodia and Laos questions should be dealt with separately. After three hours of debate, no progress was achieved. Bidault proposed that the Cambodia and Laos questions be discussed by a committee appointed by the whole conference, yet he also stated that he did not intend to regard the resolution of the Cambodia and Laos questions as a precondition to a resolution of the Vietnam question. I pointed out that a ceasefire needed to be carried out throughout Indochina, and that I would not agree to a separation of the Cambodia and Laos questions from the Vietnam question. Before yesterday's session Eden proposed to Molotov that the meeting be adjourned on the 20th for activities outside of the conference, that the restricted session on the Indochina issue be resumed on the 21st, and that the plenary session on the Korea issue be held on the 22nd. Our side agreed to this plan. There is a rumor [going around] that Eden and Bidault plan to make a trip back to Britain and France during the weekend.

(2) On the Korea issue I plan to take the lead in speaking on the question of having neutral countries supervise the election. The speech notes have been drafted and are in the process of revision. The other side has not introduced any plan for resolving the Korea issue. Probably they are discussing with Syngman Rhee and are waiting for Rhee's response.

(3) I plan to pay a return visit to Eden on the morning of the 20th. The result of the conversation will be reported separately.

Zhou Enlai
20 May 1954