Cable from the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, 'The Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister’s Reaction to the Tibet Issue'

From the Bulgaria Desk

20 May 1959

The Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister’s Reaction to the Tibet Issue

[To the] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense:

On 28 May, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry’s first deputy chief (Bulgarian Communist Central Committee [member]) [General Ivan] Kinov, after bidding farewell to our military affairs delegation, expressed the following [sentiments] to me:

1) Satisfied with the delegation’s visit to Bulgaria.  Thinks there were good talks between [the two sides]; particularly satisfied with [delegation] chief Peng’s appraisal of the Bulgarian situation.

2) When [we] discussed the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, he [said he] believed that the armed rebellion in Tibet was counterrevolutionary in nature, but “China should not provoke India in its handling of this problem, because right now the whole world is paying close attention to the Soviet Union, China and India.  These three countries each have a population of several hundreds of millions, [reaching] from the Himalayas to the Ural [Mountains], an excellent climate, and an abundance of material goods.  The United States is nothing, after a few decades it will be finished.  On the Tibetan issue, your line must be implemented, but be cautious.”

[Our] embassy believes that on the issue of Tibet, Kinov is to a certain degree uneasy about our counterattack on India following a long period of endurance; it seems he is uneasy about our methods as well, and therefore he wants us “not to provoke India,” and “be cautious.”  It is obvious that he is not the only one with this viewpoint.  It may represent the views of some leaders of the Bulgarian Communist Central [Committee].

[Chinese] Embassy in Bulgaria

30 May [1959]