Chapter 37 Zhou Enlai and the people's diplomacy before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China

As early as the 1940s, Comrade Enlai made great contributions to opening up a channel for friendly exchanges between the people of China's liberated areas and people of other countries.After the founding of New China, he devoted a lot of effort to the extensive development of people's diplomacy and made immortal achievements. Under the leadership of Comrade Enlai, I have engaged in people's diplomatic activities, and I have a deep understanding of his foresight and sagacity in this regard. On the occasion of commemorating the 90th anniversary of Comrade Enlai's birth, I can't help recalling those unforgettable years.

After the Second World War, the movement of the people of various countries for peace, democracy and independence surged like a storm.As the backbone of the people's movement, the labor movement is vigorously at the forefront of the struggle.In the struggle, the conditions for the international labor movement to achieve unity and unification are becoming more and more mature. In February 1945, the World Staff Congress was held in London.The Congress agreed to establish the World Trade Union as the unified organization of the world labor movement.At the end of September and the beginning of October of the same year, the second World Workers' Congress was held in Paris, and the World Workers' Union, referred to as the World Federation of Trade Unions, was formally established. From June 22 to 27, 1946, the second meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Trade Unions was held in Moscow. The World Federation of Trade Unions asked Zhu Xuefan, vice chairman and executive director of the World Federation of Trade Unions, and Deng Fa, an alternate executive member and director, to attend.At that time, Comrade Deng Fa had unfortunately died, and Zhu Xuefan proposed to Comrade Zhou Enlai that Liu Ningyi, an alternate director, should attend the meeting with him.

In mid-April, I arrived in Chongqing from Yan'an.That night, Comrade Enlai personally explained the task to me and had a detailed talk with me.He said that after the Second World War, the balance of power in the world changed dramatically, with the power of the people increasing and the power of imperialism weakening.The World Federation of Trade Unions is a unified organization of Soviet trade unions, British and American trade unions, and other progressive, intermediate, and conservative trade unions.Representatives of trade unions in our liberated areas participate in the activities of the World Federation of Trade Unions, and through these trade unions, we can establish contacts with the masses of workers in various countries.The current world situation is favorable to the progressive forces, and this is the general trend.However, there will inevitably be sharp and complicated struggles, and even twists and turns.The imperialists and the Chiang Kai-shek reactionaries will not easily withdraw from the stage of history.Isn't the current battle in the Central Plains and the civil war in the Northeast very clear?Facts have shown that there is still the danger of a full-scale fight.We must not only tell the people of the whole country about this danger, but also tell the people of the whole country.We must let the people of the world understand our party's desire for peace, democracy and independence and our political stand, and condemn U.S. imperialism and the Kuomintang reactionaries for provoking civil war.The crime of massacring people and persevering in dictatorship has won extensive sympathy and support from peace-loving and democratic people in all countries.

Comrade Enlai pointed out that although we have liberated areas, offices in various places, as well as radio stations and newspapers, the blockade and siege by the Kuomintang reactionaries has given us very little information, and the people of the world do not know enough about the situation in our liberated areas.Therefore, we must rush out from the breakthrough point of participating in the international labor movement, break out of the siege and blockade, go abroad, establish contacts with people of other countries, spread our news, publicize the liberated areas, expose the Kuomintang, and support each other with the people of all countries. go ahead.

Comrade Enlai also told me earnestly that international work is complex, and that knowledge in this area should be accumulated from shallow to deep, from less to more, and we must persist in long-term study and research.In this regard, we have few people and materials, so we need to make great efforts!In order to unite and unify the Chinese labor movement and the world labor movement, and to carry out diplomatic activities when we take power in the future, we must work hard in this regard.In the end, he instructed me to go through the formalities of going abroad while trying my best to understand the situation in the Kuomintang-ruled areas and knowledge about international activities.

After listening to Comrade Enlai's words, I felt that there was a path in front of me, waiting for me to study hard and forge ahead.In order to make my trip possible as soon as possible, Comrade Enlai personally negotiated with the foreign minister of the Kuomintang government to apply for a passport for me to go abroad.He also specially wrote a letter to Zhang Zhizhong in Xinjiang, begging for his care, in case the Kuomintang secret agents made trouble on the way.In addition, he wrote me another certification letter, certifying that I am a member of the Communist Party of China, so that I can contact the Communist Parties of various countries after I go abroad.

The day Zhu Xuefan and I arrived in Moscow happened to be the last day of the conference.Due to our arrival, the meeting was postponed for one day to hear our statement.On behalf of the trade unions in the Liberated Areas, I made a speech titled "Anti-Civil War, Anti-dictatorship, Anti-Traitor, Want Independence, Peace, and Democracy," which was supported by progressive friends from all over the world. According to the original plan, I will go to various European countries immediately after attending this meeting.However, due to some specific difficulties, I was unable to go to other European countries for a while, so I had to return to China temporarily to make other plans.

I returned to Shanghai in late July 1946.Coincidentally, Comrade Enlai also arrived in Shanghai from Nanjing.I reported to Comrade Enlai in the car.After hearing the report, he instructed me to stay in Shanghai first, and to do organizational work in the "Zhou Mansion" while continuing to fight for the "Labor Association" to promote the unity of the Chinese labor movement, and at the same time look for opportunities to make national efforts. In the late autumn of this year, I sent a telegram to Louis Saiyan, the general secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions, reflecting the situation of the Kuomintang reactionaries suppressing the workers, and expressed my hope to go to Paris to discuss the situation of the Chinese labor movement face-to-face.Cy Young quickly called back to welcome him.I reported this situation to Comrade Enlai, who was very happy and asked me to strive to go abroad from Hong Kong together with Zhu Xuefan.Before leaving Shanghai, Comrade Enlai repeatedly reminded him that after arriving in Europe, he should rely on overseas Chinese and the organization of the Communist Party of China, establish extensive contacts with the Communist Party and trade union organizations in Britain, France, and European countries, and try to stay there as long as possible.Since Zhu Xuefan was going to stay in Hong Kong for a period of time, I went to Europe from Hong Kong alone in early 1947.

After arriving in Paris, I followed Comrade Enlai’s instructions and instructions, and based in Paris, I kept in touch with the headquarters of the World Federation of Trade Unions, kept in touch with the branches of the Communist Party of China in France, trade union organizations in European countries, and overseas Chinese organizations. Contacted friends from all over the world and carried out a lot of international exchanges.Has been to France, Britain, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Hungary and other countries. In European countries, I not only widely publicized the Chinese Communist Party and the situation in the liberated areas, but also let the people of all countries know more about the Chinese revolution.At the same time, it also introduced the situation of the labor movement and people's revolution in various countries to the country. In March 1948, Comrade Enlai drafted a telegram instruction to me on behalf of the Central Committee, asking me to resolutely oppose the Marshall Plan at the meetings of the Executive Committee and Executive Board of the World Federation of Trade Unions, and to invite the trade unions of fraternal countries to send representatives to attend the workers' congress in our liberated areas , and conducted extensive diplomatic discussions with representatives of a number of other countries.

At that time, the Chinese People's Liberation Army successively won brilliant victories in various battlefields across the country and completely overthrew the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang. It was not too long before the liberation of the whole of China. The role and influence of the Chinese trade unions are increasing day by day. Become one of the main forces of the World Federation of Trade Unions. With the victory of the three major battles, our international activities have become more and more extensive and active.The World Federation of Trade Unions, the Youth Federation, the International Women's Federation, and the Federation of Students have successively had representatives from the Liberated Areas of China stationed in their associations.

Comrade Enlai sent me to Europe as early as the 1940s to participate in the international labor movement as a trade union representative in the liberated areas. Not only did I win the sympathy and support of people from all over the world at that time, but I also played a great role in breaking the blockade of US imperialism and the Kuomintang. Moreover, it had a certain impact on the opening of the diplomatic situation soon after the founding of New China, as well as the later unity and friendly exchanges with people of other countries. People who have experienced war know better the value of peace.After the Second World War, in order to stop the new war conspiracy of the imperialists and the reactionaries of various countries, the people of all countries took action to call for peace and oppose war in various ways. An unprecedented people's movement for peace and defense swept the entire country world.The peace groups of various countries jointly agreed to hold a world peace support conference in Paris in April 1949.The proposal was issued, and the people of all countries responded enthusiastically, and soon formed their own delegations or preparatory institutions. On March 18, 1949, Comrade Enlai drafted a telegram for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Xibaipo to Peng Zhen and Ye Jianying and forwarded it to Li Weihan, telling them that the Central Committee decided to respond to the initiative and form a delegation to attend the conference, and ordered Li Weihan to mobilize and organize the society first in Beiping Individuals, cultural organizations, literary and artistic circles, and scientific circles elect representatives and prepare to form a delegation.At the same time, Comrade Enlai personally drew up a list for reference. On March 20, when the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was on the way from Hebei to Beiping, Comrade Enlai said to me: The convening of a world conference to support peace is a manifestation of the great will of people all over the world to oppose war and love peace. It is a symbol of the growing democratic camp against imperialism in the world headed by the people's democracies.Our sending a delegation to the conference not only shows that we are willing to cooperate with the people of all countries in the world to jointly commit to the cause of world peace, but also brings the voice of the Chinese people to the conference so that people of all countries can understand that the current revolutionary struggle of the Chinese people , It is to use practical actions to stop wars and defend peace, and we have enough strength to defeat US imperialism and the Kuomintang reactionaries.During the meeting, we can also extensively carry out people's diplomacy and make friends in the people's movement for peace and defense of peace.Comrade Enlai informed me that after arriving in Peiping, he would start specific preparatory work together with Qian Junrui, Chen Jiakang, and Xiao San. On March 24, the Chinese delegation was formally formed, with Guo Moruo as the head, Liu Ningyi and Ma Yinchu as the deputy heads, and Qian Junrui as the secretary-general.The members of the group include representatives of ten groups including the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the China Democratic Women's Federation, and the Preparatory Committee of the China Youth Federation, as well as representatives of well-known personalities from all walks of life. At 3:00 p.m. on March 27, the delegation gathered at the Beijing Hotel, discussed and approved the mission and organizational charter of the delegation, and then invited Comrade Zhou Enlai to give a farewell talk. Comrade Enlai pointed out: What you are going to attend is a conference that opposes war and strives for peace.During the meeting, we should use our own glorious struggle experience to tell the people of all countries that the danger of war created by imperialism can be overcome, and that any aggressive plan can be crushed. The group is an obstacle to peace in China.We have now overcome this obstacle, and we are clearing away its remnants.The ongoing war of liberation in our country is precisely a struggle for independence, democracy and peace against the Kuomintang's civil war, dictatorship and traitorous policies.In China, only by overthrowing the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang and eradicating their war policy can we truly achieve complete peace.This will be a great contribution of the Chinese people to world peace.Therefore, our war of liberation is consistent with the goal of world peace.When we go to the conference, we must confidently publicize this truth. Comrade Enlai said that there are representatives of various fields in the delegation, which symbolizes the strength of China's unity and is the guarantee for the victory of the Chinese revolution.You go abroad to seek friends, unity and peace, and knowledge.Therefore, we must be good at making friends with people from all over the world.Our representatives, in international exchanges, should maintain a style of neither humble nor overbearing, modest and prudent.Your words and deeds abroad represent hundreds of millions of Chinese people.So be serious, but don't be cautious. Everyone's words and deeds must conform to their own identities and reflect their own representativeness.For example, professors must have the status of professors, and religious figures must play their respective roles if they want to talk about issues in the religious world.Comrade Enlai's entrustment has strengthened our confidence and strength to complete the task, and at the same time we feel proud and honored. On March 29, we embarked on a journey to Paris with the good wishes and entrustment of hundreds of millions of Chinese people to support peace.After arriving in Europe, because the French government refused to issue entry visas on the pretext of limiting the number of people, we had to stop in Prague and continue to negotiate.Because the meeting date has come, and delegations from some countries were also blocked in Prague, the organizing committee of the conference decided to hold the meeting in two places, that is, the Paris-Prague Conference. At 10:50 a.m. on April 20, 1949, the World Congress for Peace opened simultaneously at the Hall of Culture in Paris and the National Assembly in Prague.In his opening speech, the chairman of the conference and the world-renowned scientist Joliot Curie paid tribute to the representatives of Democratic China (referring to the Liberated Areas), Free Spain, Free Greece, Vietnam and Indonesia, and expressed his respect for the people of these countries in their struggle for peace and democracy. support. On the night of April 23, our People's Liberation Army successfully liberated Nanjing.When the news spread to the meeting, representatives from all countries were jubilant and enthusiastically celebrated the glorious victory of the Chinese People's War of Liberation, so that the meeting had to temporarily change the schedule and let everyone celebrate to their heart's content.The Czech people took to the streets to celebrate the victory of the Chinese people.They lifted the representatives of China and threw them into the air, expressing their heartfelt joy and joy. During the meeting, according to the spirit of Comrade Enlai's speech before leaving, we introduced to the conference the development of political, economic and cultural undertakings in the liberated areas of China and the labor movement in the Kuomintang ruled areas, and stated that the Chinese people will consolidate and develop their own victories, Work together with the people of the world for lasting peace. The meeting ended successfully on May 4. On May 25, Guo Moruo and Ma Yinchu led a delegation from Shenyang to Beiping via Tianjin.Comrade Enlai personally led Lin Boqu, Dong Biwu, Li Jishen, Shen Junru and other leaders of people's organizations from all walks of life and more than 2,000 people's representatives to the station to greet them.On the same day, a grand rally of 100,000 people was held in Tiananmen Square to welcome the delegation. At that time, Comrade Enlai was busy preparing for the new CPPCC, so I had to sit in the car on the way from Xiangshan to the urban area to report to him the situation of the delegation abroad.Comrade Enlai asked about the performance and health of the delegates abroad.Then he said that the victory of the Chinese revolution and the development of the people's power are the concerns of the people of all countries.Seeing China's victory, the people of some colonial and semi-colonial countries will be inspired to set off a high tide of national independence movements.The development of the world situation is conducive to our people's diplomacy.Now, through the peace movement, we have extensive contacts with the people of all countries and become friends with all those who oppose imperialism. This not only breaks through the encirclement and blockade of US imperialism, but also forms an anti-encirclement against US imperialism.America wants to isolate us diplomatically, and we isolate them in the people's movement.This is the significance of our people's diplomacy.At the same time, we have been tempered in people's diplomacy, increased our knowledge, broadened our horizons, and seen the progress of the people of the world. In order to better carry out people's diplomacy, under the direct care and deployment of Comrade Enlai, shortly thereafter, the Chinese People's Defense of World Peace Conference, the Sino-Soviet Friendship Association, the Sino-Japanese Friendship Association, the Sino-American Friendship Association, the Sino-Indian Friendship Association, and the Federation of Foreign Literary and Art Circles were successively established. , International Trade Promotion Association, Foreign Economic Aid Committee and other social groups.The establishment of these institutions has played a huge role in carrying out multi-faceted non-governmental exchanges with some countries that have not yet established diplomatic relations, thus promoting the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between countries. The strategic position of Asia and the Pacific region and the composition of international relations in this region determine that it plays a decisive role in the peace of the whole world. In 1951, the World Peace Council decided to hold an Asian and Pacific Regional Peace Conference in Beijing with China as the main body, referred to as the Asia-Pacific Peace Conference. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China believes that convening such a meeting will not only enhance the friendship between the people of our country and the people of other countries, further expand the influence of New China, but also break through the encirclement and blockade of imperialism.At that time, the Korean War was raging, and the U.S. imperialists conspired to implement a crescent-shaped military siege on our country, directly threatening our country.It is very beneficial for the newly established new my country to hold such a meeting in our country at this time.Therefore, it was decided to make every effort to prepare for the meeting, and appointed Comrade Zhou Enlai to lead the work, and Comrade Peng Zhen to preside over the meeting. In order to make this conference a success, Comrade Enlai instructed us that the conference should include prominent figures from countries in Asia, Australia, and America that have not established diplomatic relations with us.As a peace movement, it is possible to absorb them.It cannot be denied that there will be representatives from the Left, Center and Right factions among the delegates.Invite them to come, and we have to do some work accordingly. We need soldiers to fight against soldiers, and generals to generals. Whoever comes, we will send people with corresponding identities to do the work.Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize more celebrities to participate in the reception work.Later, in accordance with Enlai's instructions, Comrade Xu Bing, deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee, took the lead and mobilized many famous people to participate in the reception work, such as Chen Shutong, Zhang Bojun, Zhang Naiqi, and Cai Tingpin.As for the opening method of the meeting, Enlai instructed that it should be divided into several steps. First, hold the preparatory meeting well, attract more representatives from relevant countries to hold the preparatory meeting well, and at the same time invite them to form a preparatory organization in their own country, and mobilize people from all walks of life to participate in the meeting. On this basis, a formal meeting will be held. Comrade Enlai also presided over the drafting and personally revised the proposal jointly signed by 11 people including Soong Ching Ling and Guo Moruo. On June 3, representatives from 19 countries, including Australia, Myanmar, Canada, Ceylon, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Mexico, the United States, the Soviet Union, Vietnam, Malaya, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines, attended the A preparatory meeting was held in Beijing.At the meeting, a debate was launched on the formulation of peace and national independence.Some representatives proposed to talk about peace and national independence separately.At the meeting, in accordance with Comrade Enlai's instructions, we patiently did persuasion work, and after arguing, we persuaded the other party.Finally, resolutions were adopted to defend world peace, support the national independence movements of various countries, and support the Democratic War of Liberation of the Korean nation.At the meeting, it was decided to hold a general meeting in September of that year. In order to meet the meeting in September, the central government has made great efforts to make serious preparations from all aspects. At that time, there were only Beijing Hotel (old building) and Liuguo Hotel, and there were not enough rooms to receive representatives from various countries.Comrade Enlai instructed that a Peace Hotel be built in Jinyu Hutong, and that it be completed within two months with guaranteed quality.In order to prepare the venue for the conference, Comrade Enlai personally made a plan to transform Huairen Hall, transforming a courtyard house that could only accommodate more than 300 people into a large auditorium that could accommodate 900 people, and installed the most advanced 4 in the world at that time. Simultaneous interpretation equipment for multiple languages.The conference needs staff. Comrade Shaoqi called the responsible comrades of the Youth League and the Organization Department for a meeting, assigned tasks, and demanded that they do their best to ensure the needs of the conference, and they had to give to whomever they wanted.Deng Xiaoping told Comrade Qi Yanming, Secretary-General of the Government Affairs Council, to do everything possible to ensure the technical equipment and materials needed for the meeting.For the reception work, Comrade Enlai thought very carefully, and even personally asked about the seating of the banquet and the arrangement of accommodation.Due to the attention of the central leadership, the preparatory work went smoothly. On October 2, the Asian and Pacific Regional Peace Conference was grandly opened in Beijing. Since the representatives came from different countries and held different political views, the meeting inevitably had twists and turns.During the discussion, a considerable number of representatives showed pacifist thinking, did not distinguish between just wars and unjust wars, opposed all wars in general, and also had objections to the national independence movement and my country's resistance to U.S. aggression and aid to Korea, and tried every means to lower the tone of the meeting.We reported this situation to Comrade Enlai, who asked us to mobilize representatives of fraternal parties and countries to do a good job together, strive to expand the progressive forces, and overcome the influence of pacifism.We have worked diligently to comply with these instructions and have made the meeting a success.The meeting passed the "Letter to the United Nations", "Letter to the People of the World" and resolutions on the Korean issue, the Japanese issue, the national independence movement, and economic and cultural exchanges, and established the Asian and Pacific Regional Peace Liaison Committee. The chairman is Guo Moruo and 10 people from other countries, and I am the secretary-general. This meeting is a large-scale action of great strategic significance led by Comrade Enlai to carry out people's diplomacy to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.It has deepened people's understanding of New China and expanded the influence of New China in the world.At the celebration meeting of 50,000 people held in Beijing, the deputy head of the US delegation said: "The US delegation would like to express its gratitude to those who made this grand meeting a success" and "the Chinese people are so wise and confident , so strong, gentle and courteous, so healthy and happy, so hopeful and energetic. In just three years, the character and demeanor of the whole nation have undergone changes that have never been seen in the world. This is a new things, things we never dared to dream of."Indonesian representative Su Luoduo said: "The success of this meeting is due to the present Beijing and the present China." For more than 20 years after the founding of New China, there was no diplomatic relationship between China and Japan.In order to change this situation that is not conducive to the people of the two countries, Comrade Enlai, with the foresight of a proletarian diplomat, led us to carry out long-term, multi-faceted, and multi-channel people's diplomacy to Japan. In 1955, we were sent to participate in the "World Conference on the Prohibition of Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs" is an important example. On August 6, 1955, representatives of various political parties and groups in Japan prepared to hold the "World Conference on the Prohibition of Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs." Comrade Enlai attached great importance to this meeting, and believed that it was a good opportunity to carry out people's diplomacy with Japan, and opening up channels for people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan is a task of strategic significance.Before we set off, Comrade Enlai gave important instructions.He said that after arriving in Japan, he would resolutely support the Japanese people's struggle against atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs, and oppose the aggressive policy and atomic blackmail of U.S. imperialism.We have to form a sharp contrast with the United States. What the United States dropped on Japan was an atomic bomb. We will bring RMB to provide relief and condolences to the Japanese people.At that time, the Japanese economy was damaged by the war, and the Japanese people were in great difficulty. Although we only brought 100,000 yuan, the impact was not small. Comrade Enlai pointed out that in the past Japanese militarism invaded China and massacred the Chinese people.However, the victims of the war are not only the Chinese people, but also the Japanese people, as evidenced by the disaster caused by the atomic bombing to the Japanese people.Therefore, we must distinguish the Japanese people from the Japanese militarism and the Japanese reactionary government.After 10 years, the people of the two countries have changed.The Chinese people sympathize with the Japanese people, and the Japanese people express friendship to the Chinese people.Both peoples have the desire for friendly exchanges.Therefore, we should communicate extensively with the Japanese people, and play a role in the people's movement to defend world peace. Comrade Enlai also pointed out that it is necessary to attach importance to people's diplomacy with Japan. We welcome them to visit China's construction and let them have a broad understanding of New China.We also need to have more contact with the Japanese people.The General Council of Japanese Trade Unions has a broad mass base, and the Socialist Party, the Komeito Party, the Communist Party, and other political and opposition parties, mass organizations, and people from all walks of life should get in touch and establish extensive and regular contacts. After arriving in Japan, we followed the instructions of Comrade Enlai, conducted extensive contacts with all walks of life in Japan, gave great support to the just struggle of the Japanese people against atomic bombs and American imperialism, and spread friendship among the Japanese people. Comrade Enlai once said in the 1950s that if people-to-people diplomacy continues, more Japanese groups will come, and our groups will also go. We have done everything that the two countries have to do, and in the end only the prime ministers and foreign ministers of the two countries are left. Signed and drank champagne.This passage is not only Comrade Enlai's evaluation of China-Japan people-to-people diplomacy, but also fully expresses his understanding of the status and role of people-to-people diplomacy. Diplomacy, it used to be a noble and mysterious word in history, it means that the activities of a few people determine the fate of thousands of people. However, Zhou Enlai, a great proletarian diplomat, combined diplomacy with the masses of the people, and made diplomacy go out of the narrow stage of the activities of a few diplomats and into the vast world of people's movements, making the diplomatic exchanges between countries and the diplomatic activities between the people They complement each other so that diplomacy reflects the will of the people. This is an important feature of Zhou Enlai's diplomatic thought and diplomatic practice.It not only occupies an important position in Zhou Enlai's entire diplomatic practice, but also left a glorious chapter with pioneering significance in the history of world diplomacy.