Urgent Note from the Conversation of Stefan Jedrychowski with the New PRC ambassador to Poland, Comrade Yao Guang

Warsaw, September 7, 1970

Secret

Urgent Note from the conversation of [Poland's Foreign Minister – Stefan Jedrychowski] with the new PRC ambassador to Poland, Comrade Yao Guang on September 4, 1970

…

I declared Poland's interest in developing friendly relations with the PRC. I emphasized that we have always treated and continue to treat China as a great country and a world power. The PRC, having the tradition of several thousand of years as a country, has at the same time enormous prospects for development. The Communist Party of China has a long revolutionary tradition. We believe that the difficulties between China and the socialist countries are temporary.

Yao replied: “I am very pleased with your assessment of our country. I express my admiration for these friendly words of yours, Comrade Minister, and the statement regarding Poland's aspiration to improve relations between our countries. We never hid the fact that on principal matters; there are divergences between our countries. This fact, however, should not be an obstacle to our state relations based on friendship. Our nation and government believe that inter-state relations should be based on the principles of full equality, respect for territorial integrity, respect for independence and sovereignty, and mutual non-interference as far as internal matters. We think that both of our nations should live in friendship. We should not only maintain state relations, but we also think that these relations should be good.”

I emphasized our keen interest, as an ally of the USSR, in improving Sino-Soviet relations as well as pointed out that we took seriously the statement of Mao Zedong of May 1 of this year regarding the prospects of improving relations between the PRC and USSR as a promising progress in negotiations. Here's Yao's reply:

“We understand what you have said, Comrade Minister, regarding the difficulties in improving Sino-Polish relations. We also understand your concern about the development of Sino-Soviet relations. As far as the relations between the PRC and the USSR are concerned, then our position has always been clear, that is, on principal matters, there are divergences which cannot be resolved and the polemics will last for a long time. But, as far as state relations with the Soviet Union, we have always followed the five principles of peaceful coexistence: full equality, mutual non-aggression, mutual respect of territorial integrity, mutual respect for sovereignty and independence, and mutual non-interference in internal matters…”

I pointed out that imperialism is taking advantage of the divergences and quarrels to expand its own aggression, something which would not have taken place if the socialist countries were united.

Yao replied: “The Chinese nation has been oppressed by imperialism for years, it was a victim of aggression and conducted a long-term anti-imperialist struggle – so we have a good knowledge of imperialism, and especially American imperialism…

I reiterated our consistent position regarding Poland's support for the PRC on Taiwan as China's territory and returning the PRC's rightful place to the UN…

While thanking me for my assessment of the situation in the FRG, Yao added: “It does not matter that our opinions of Brandt's government are different. We can exchange the views on this issue.”

He thanked me for receiving him so promptly and devoting much of my time (the visit lasted for an hour and a half) and took place in a friendly atmosphere.

/-/ S. JEDRYCHOWSKI



Received by the following comrades:

Gomulka
Cyrankiewicz
Jaszczuk
Jedrychowski
Kliszko
Spychalski
Czesak
Kania
Jaruzelski

[…]

Sent by courier to Moscow and Beijing