Cable from Zhou Enlai, 'Specific Refutations against the American Disruption of Influence of the Afro-Asian Conference'

From: Bandung

26 April 1955

Forward to: Jiakang, Gongpeng, Research Center

Forward to: (Forwarded) Chairman, [Liu] Shaoqi, [Zhou] Enlai, Zhu De, Chen Yun, [Peng] Dehuai, [Deng] Xiaoping, Chen Yi, [Xi] Chongxun, [Yang] Shangkun, [Hu] Qiaomu, Foreign Ministry, [Wang] Jiaxiang, [Li] Kenong, [Lu] Dingyi, Deng Tuo, Yang Gang, [Wu] Lengxi

Specific Refutations against the American Disruption of Influence of the Afro-Asian Conference

To Comrade [Zhang] Wentianand the Central Committee:

During the Afro-Asian conference discussions, pro-American countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iraq, and etc. countries, have used the debate on so called “various forms of colonialism” to obstruct the conference from reaching consensus. It is estimated that the American side and pro-American countries would exploit the term “various forms of colonialism” to disrupt the influence of the Afro-Asian conference. If they attempt to capitalize on this point, please consider the following points in your refutation:

1. Explain the origin and nature of colonialism from historical aspects as well as theoretical aspects.

2. The various manifestations of colonial rule and exploitation; especially the United States’ colonial exploitative behavior towards various countries after the Second World War (towards colonies, dependencies, defeated countries, independent countries and even towards other imperialist countries).

3. Shared advantages and trends of colonialism (Economic backwardness of colonies and the poverty of its people guarantees maximum profit for monopolies, however this kind of exploitation cannot resolve capitalism’s economic crisis, the end result leads to war if not revolution).

4. At the Afro-Asian conference a minority of countries have mentioned the idea of neo-colonialism. They argue that the Soviet Union is a new colonizing country, and that Eastern European People’s Democracies are new colonies; this is against common knowledge. Prime Minister Nehru said: People can disagree with Communism, but there is no reason to dub the Soviet Union [as a power of] colonialism.

5. Point out that this kind of absurd argument is exactly the American ruling bloc’s method for furthering colonialism and opposing the Soviet Union.

Be aware that in analysis there is no need to use the term neo-colonialism to describe American colonialism, there is also no need to mention specific country nations to conduct criticism. There is no need to specifically note that the Afro-Asian conference countries are all in agreement on this question, but [we] can emphasize that the awakened peoples of Afro-Asian countries will not be tricked by this kind of absurd propaganda.

Zhou Enlai

25 April 1955