S/PV.1955 Security Council

I wish to associate myself with the sentiments which have been expressed by you, Mr. President, on the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. I have already conveyed my sympathy and condolences to the Premier of the State Council of the’ People’s Republic of China. 2. ,The world shares the grief of the Chinese people in the loss of their great leader, for he was truly a giant of our age. We know how deeply the Chinese people had come to love and revere Chairman Mao as the leader whose cou’rage and determination, whose breadth of vision and unflagging spirit restored the unity of China and regained for it its rightful status as a great and honoured member of the family of nations. 9. Chairman Mao Tse-fung was a truly historic figure of our time who dedicated his whole life to the buiIding of a new China. He was a beloved leader of his people; he’ was both a thinker and a man of action, and his success in making a reality of the vision which is embodied in his thought and his writings is unique in history. 3. Mao gave to his people a sense of purpose and pride based on equity, self-reliance and confidence in a better world. In the scope of his achievements as a revolutionary leader, thinker, statesman, poet and soldier, he came to embody something of the aspirations of all mankind. In leading China on an unparalleled journey to greatness; he not only shaped the destiny of his own country but altered the course of world history. Each of us knows that our own organization is different because of Chairman Mao’s historic role. Each of us here feels very directly the impact of his life and of his heritage. IO. Much of Chairman Mao’s effort was directed to the search for better international understanding and world peace and, under his leadership, China has joined ,with other nations in the United Nations in the effort to create a better world” for all. In continuing to strive towards the objectives to which the Organization is devoted, the wisdom and statesmanship of Chairman Mao will be sorely missed. We shall always remember him as one of the great and outstanding leaders of the world.

My delegation joins you, Mr. President, and the Secretary-General in offering to the delegation of China, the Government and people of that great country its deepest condolences on their great loss and bereavement. The people of Pakistan join them in mourning the passing away of a great leader of China and of Asia. 13. The ideas and philosophy of Chairman Mao Tse-tung have shaped and changed the history of our times and influenced hundreds of millions of people in many parts of the world. Chairman Mao’s life was a living precept of the principles for which he stood and struggled. His actions inspired and moved people all over the world. His words and deeds became a legend during his own lifetime. 14. His struggle did not end when it triumphed in the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in October 1949. The freedom-fighter became the nation-builder. Under Chairman Mao’s leade.rship and inspiration, China emerged from its long travail to win recognition as a great and influential Power in the world. Nor was Chairman Mao’s influence confined within the borders of his own great country. As Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said yesterday in a statement issued on this occasion: “The name of Chairman Mao Tse-tung shall for ever remain synonymous with the great and good causes of the poor and the downtrodden of the world. Chairman Mao was the supreme architect of a brilliant new order shaking the world, a man of the millennium who made history shrink.” 15. For the people of Pakistan, Chairman Mao was a great and true friend. We mourn his passing away with sorrow and anguish, but also with the knowledge that his thoughts will continue to guide the destinies of peoples and nations and in confidence that the frienship between our two peoples, whose foundations he personally laid, will continue to deepen and to grow in strength to their own mutual benefit and to the benefit of peace and stability in Asia.

In joining the tribute that you, Mr. President, and the Secretary-General have paid to the memory of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, allow me to read the text of a telegram sent by the Secretary-General of the Romanian Communist Party, President of the Socialist Republic of Romania, Nicolae Ceauaescu, to the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, to the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly of Popular Representatives of t$e People’s Republic of China, and to the Council of State of the People’s Republic of China: “On behalf of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, the Council of State and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Romania and the entire Romanian people, as well as on my own behalf, I extend to you, to all Communists and to the friendly Chinese people the most sincere condolences on the particularly heavy loss suffered by the death of Comrade Mao Tse-tung. The entire life and revolutionary activity of Comrade Mao Tse-tung are closely linked with the history of the heroic struggle of Communists and the Chinese people against imperialism and reaction, to overthrow the old order, for the victory of the revolution and for the building of socialism in China. Mao Tse-tung was the leader of the great victory of the revolution of the Chinese people, an event of historic importance in the life of mankind which has a profound influence on the revolutionary struggle of peoples to be free from foreign domination, to attain national independence and a better life. Under the leadership of the Chinese Cornmu-, nist Party of Comrade Mao Tse-tung, the Chinese: people achieved remarkable successes in building socialism, developing science and culture, raising the standard of living and building modern China,. The People’s Republic of China has affirmed itself as a powerful force in contemporary times in the: struggle against jmperialism, colonialism and neocolonialism by making vital contributions to the: process of revolutionary transformations throughout the world, to the cause of national and social liberation and, the promotion of peace and socialism, “Comrade Mao Tse-tung was a close friend of the Romanian people and strove for the development of relations between our parties, our countries and our peoples for the good of both peoples and the cause of socialism and peace. In these days of hard trial, we join with all our compassion in the sorrow of the Communists and the Chinese people as a whole. We express our conviction that the friendship, co-operation and solidarity between our parties and our countries will continue to become stronger and constantly develop in the future. We extend our most sincere condolences to the bereaved family.” 17. .On behalf of the Romanian delegation and on my own behalf, I also wish to express to the representa-

Chairman Mao Tse-tung has just ended his long march. The Chinese people is in a period of mourning and sufferi,ng. I should like to say here to the Ambassador representing the People’s Republic of China how much we share the mourning of his mission. 19. Without ever having left China, Chairman Mao performed a task whose scope goes beyond the frontiers of his own country. He was the founder, the supreme organizer of a very great nation, and France is honoured to be its friend. 20. In 1964 France, upon the initiative of General de Gaulle, was among the first to do justice to China and Chairman Mao. Recognizing the tremendous task he had performed, we established with him and with the Chinese leaders relations based upon profound personal esteem and the same sense of history. History teaches us all. We have to heed history and to transform it after having interpreted it on a world scale. Those who have mastered the highest thought and the most effective action enter directly into the pantheon of the great. 21. Chairman Mao was one of the great interpreters of our time. Mr. Giscard d’Estaing, President of the French Republic, expressed it yesterday when he said: “Chairman Mao Tse-tung was a beacon for world thought”. The history of men is marked by death and mourning, but it is also their memories. I would request the representative of the People’s Republic of China to believe that France and the French people will long preserve the memory of Chairman Mao Tsetung and remain friends of China in its trials and future enterprises to build a China worthy of its founder

On behalf of all the members of the United Kingdom Mission, I wish to offer our deepest sympathy to Ambassador Huang Hua personally and to the Chinese Mission on the death of their great leader, Chairman Mao Tsetung. 23. Messages of condolence have already been sent from Her Majesty the Queen to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, from the Prime Minister to the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Coinmonwealth Affairs to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs. 24. Chairman Mao was a giant among men. Statesman, political philosopher, military strategist, Poet 25. My Secretary of State, Mr. Crosland, in his message to the Chinese Foreign Minister, described Chairman Mao as 6‘ . . . a courageous and far-sighted leader, who dedicated his life to the service of his people, He was a man of both action and ideas who, through his qualities of leadership and through his writings, guided and inspired ‘the Chinese people for over half a century. He will occupy a unique place in the history of China and of the world.”

President Ford yesterday expressed the condolences of the United States Government and the American people on the occasion of the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, noting that Chairman Mao was a giant figure in modern China whose influence on history will extend far beyond the borders of China. The President pointed out that it was under Chairman Mao that China had moved together with the United States to end a generation of hostility and to launch a new and more positive era in relations between the two countries. 27. Secretary of State Kissinger in a statement yesterday extended sympathy to the people and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. He noted that Chairman Mao had has a tremendous impact on the present and on the future of his country. He described him as an historic figure. 28. The United States delegation adds its condolences to Ambassador Huang Hua and the delegation of the People’s Republic of China here at the United Nations and to the people and the Government of China in their great loss. We shall remember Chairman Mao as a world leader of first rank, a man of vision who took a personal interest in strengthening ties between China and the United States-a significant development in the interest of world peace and of long-term benefit to the evolution of a more secure world.

Mr. President, my delegation wishes to join you, the Secretary-Genera] and our colleagues who have spoken before me In expressing to the Chinese delegation our most sincere and deepest sympathy and condolences on the occasion of the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. “With the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, one of the great leaders in world history has passed away. His name and his life’s work will for ever be linked to the liberation struggle of the Chinese people. Under his leadership China has risen from the deep degradation of colonialism and feudalism. The impact of Mao Tse-tung’s work is not confined to China only. His thoughts regarding the power of the human will to reshape the conditions of our existence have profoundly influenced peoples all over the world.” 31. I should like to ask Ambassador Huang Hua, through you, Mr. President, to convey to the Government of China and to the bereaved family the expression of the most deeply felt condolences of the Swedish delegation.

I wish to associate myself with the statements made by the President of the Council, the Secretary-General and the speakers who prededed me in expressing condolences on the untimely passing away of Chairman Mao Tse-tung of the People’s Republic of China and in paying a tribute to his unique achievements as the leader of that great country. 33, His successful revolutionary remodelling of China and the consolidation of its distinguished position in the world will long be recorded in the annals of history and admired. His passing away is indeed a great loss to the world, and to my country as China’s closest neighbour geographically, historically and culturally. 34. I wish to take this opportunity to quote from the statement made yesterday by the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Miki on this occasion. The Prime Minister said: “I had earlier expressed my deep respect for the guidance shown by Chairman Mao on the occasion of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, and I feel it is most regrettable that we have lost this great leader at this moment when the conclusion of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty is only a step away. We are determined to exert further efforts for the development of ever-lasting good-neighbourly and friendly relations between our two countries based on the spirit of the Japan-China joint communiquC.” 35. I should be most grateful if the representative of China would convey my delegation’s sympathy and condolences to the Government and people of China.

The Italian delegation wishes whole-heartedly to associate itself with the 37. The President of the Italian Republic, the President of the Senate and the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy yesterday sent their messages of condolence to the Chinese Government. 38. I wish now to express to Ambassador Huang Hua and to the delegation of the People’s Republic of China the heart-felt condolences of the Italian delegation, together with all our sympathy in their sense of loss.

Mr. President, I wish to associate myself and the rest of the Guyana delegation with the condolences and tributes which you, the Secretary-General and other speakers have expressed to our colleague and friend, Ambassador Huang Hua of China, and through him to the Government and people of China. 40. For us in Guyana the passing away of Chairman Mao Tse-tung came as a great shock and has imposed upon us a sense of deep and grievous loss. His death is a great loss to all mankind. Chairman Mao Tse-tung was an inspiring leader, an intrepid fighter, an outstanding statesman and a great teacher. He was a true revolutionary. On learning of the news of Chairman Mao’s death, my Prime Minister, Comrade Forbes Burnham, immediately sent the following message to the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China: “My party and the Government and people of Guyana join with you and the people of your great Republic in mourning the death of Chairman M’ao. It was under his revolutionary leadership that your Republic was conceived and built. It was his wisdom and guidance which transformed every parl. of your land into a socialist society from which hunger and disease have been banished. His heroic example and his thoughts are a source of inspiration and will continue to sustain men wherever they are held; in bondage, in dismal ghettos of great cities or the evil camps of crpnrtheid or in besieged enclaves of imperialism. While we mourn his loss, we can be confident that his teachings will not die, but will provide a programme for action in ages to come. “In the long struggle for liberation, very few men have been called upon to play a decisive role. Chairman Mao must be numbered among those few, With his going, otir planetary community has been 41. Chairman Mao is no longer with us, but his record of dedication, his manifold accomplishments, his writings remain with us as monuments urging us to recommit ,a11 our energies to the creative building of a world in which freedom, peace and equity reign supreme, a world from which exploitation, inhumanity and unequal relations are completely and irrevocably banished. 47. On occasions like this it is extremely difficult to put into words how one really feels, but, having had the rare privilege of serving in China and the opportunity and privilege of meeting. Chairman Mao Tsetung in person, I must say that I feel the loss even more on a personal level. 42. I shoud like through you, Mr. President, to ask Ambassador Huang Hua to convey to the Government and people of China the deepest sympathy and sincere condolences of my delegation. 48. Therefore, on behalf of my colleagues, I wish to request the delegation of China, through Ambassador Huang Hua, to convey our heartfelt condolences. I assure them that we, like them, mourn the passing away of this great leader.

First of all, I should like to read out a telegram from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, sent yesterday to Peking, to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China:

Mr. President, my delegation associates itself with the statements made by you, Sir, the Secretary-General and the speakers who preceded me. We express our profound condolences to the Chinese party, Government and people. “in connexion with the passing of the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Mao Tse-tung, please accept our most profound condolences. We should also like to express -our feeling of sympathy to the family and relatives of the deceased.” 44, Here I should like to request the representative of China, Ambassador Huang Hua, and all the members of the Chinese mission to the United Nations, to accept our deepest condolences on behalf of the Soviet delegation and on my own behalf personally.

My President, Julius Nyerere, has already conveyed in a message to the Chinese Prime Minister the deep grief and the sense of loss that the Government and people of Tanzania feel at the most untimely passing away of Chairman Mao tse-tung. The world is indeed poorer as a result of the loss of that great leader, for Chairman Mao was certainly one of the greatest leaders of our century, indeed of all time, 46. The people and Government of our country mourn the death of Chairman Mao as their own loss, for Chairman Mao was a great inspiration to our people. He was a leader who combined many things-a great revolutionary, a world statesman, a poet and a philosopher, He was a leader with a most tremendous impact on all those who were fighting for freedom, dignity and justice, I should like here to repeat what I said yesterday at the meeting of the Committee on decolonization’ when we paid a tribute to Chairman Mao: “[He] was one of the greatest revolutionaries of the twentieth century. His dedication to freedom 50. Chairman Mao devoted his entire life to the cause of the oppressed throughout the world. His philosophy and his accurate revolutionary analyses have left a profound and indelible impression on peoples striving for peace and justice against foreign imperialism and its threats in all forms. The party, Government and people of Benin feel great sorrow and share the grief of the Chinese people. Chairman Mao was not only a great leader of the new China but also, and above all, a major leader in the third world, because his vision was so accurate. 5 1. My delegation expresses its profound sympathy to Ambassador Huang Hua and we request him to be so good as to convey to the Chinese people an expression of the deep sorrow of the entire people of Benin.

The people and Government of the Republic of Panama wish to express here their profound condolences on the occasion of the death of the world leader Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chairman of the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Honorary Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. 53. I now have the honour to read out the text of a telegram sent yesterday by the Chief of State of Panama, General Omar Torrijos Herrera, to the illustrious Government of China: “I express to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China our feelings of solidarity 54. Panama’s condolences, which at this meeting we are again conveying to Ambassador H,uang Hua and to the members of the Chinese delegation, are based on our profound respect for the great nationalist work of Chairman Mao, which today assumes mythological proportions as we perceive his extraordinary achievements in the growing economic, social, educational and technological advancement attained by the Chinese people under his leadership. 55. Perhaps the best tribute that can be paid to Chairman Mao now that his person has transcended the boundaries of earth and entered the realms of immortality is to recall his profound nationalist faith. In the course of his struggles, Chairman Mao used to tell an anecdote as an incentive for his people. These were his words: “There is an old chinese story called ‘The old fool who moved mountains’. There was an old man who lived in the north of China and was known as the old fool of the northern mountains! His house looked south, and in front of it, obstructing the way, were two huge mountains, Taijang and Wangwu. The old fool decided to get his sons to remove the two mountains. Another old man known as ‘the old wise man’ saw them and, laughing, told them, ‘What stupidity. It is absolutely impossible for you, being so few, to be able to move such enormous mountains.’ The old fool replied, ‘After I die my children will continue. When they die, my grandchildren will be there, and then their offspring, and so on, indefinitely. Even though the mountains are tall, they do not grow bigger. They become smaller as we remove parts of them. Why, then, should we be unable to remove them’?’ After refuting the erroneous idea of the old wise man, be continued digging day after day, unflaggingly. God was moved by this, and sent two angels down to earth who carried away the two mountains. “Now-Mao said-two mountains weigh heavily over the land of China. One is called imperialism, the other feudalism. We must persevere in our determination, and we must labour unceasingly. We shall also move God. Our god is the popular masses of China, none other. If they rise up and dig with us, why should we not be hble to do away with those two mountains?” 56. Those present here know that history has proved Chairman Mao Tse-tung right. It is this mystical faith

Chairman Mao Tse-tung, the esteemed and beloved great leader and teacher of the Chinese people, the founder and wise leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Republic of China, died of illness at 10 minutes after midnight on 9 September 1976 in Peking. 58. Chairman Mao Tse-tung dedicated all his energies throughout his life to the liberation of the Chinese people and to the emancipation of the oppressed nations and oppressed peoples the world over, Chairman Mao led the Chinese people’s revolution to victory, a victory which changed the situation in the east and the world and blazed a new trail for the cause of liberation of the oppressed nations and oppressed peoples. All the victories of the Chinese people were achieved under the leadership of Chairman Mao; they are ali great victories for the thought of Mao Tse-tung, The radiance of Mao Tse-tung’s thought will forever illuminate the road of advance of the Chinese people. 59. The passing away of Chairman Mao Tse-tung is an unspeakable loss to the Chinese people as well as to the world proletariat and the revolutionaries of all countries. His passing away has naturally caused immense grief in the hearts of the people of our country and the revolutionaries of all countries. 60. At today’s meeting, the Secretary-General, the President of the Council and the representatives of the; member States of, the Council have expressed profound condolences on the passing away of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. I will convey their cordial feelings to the Chinese Government and, in the name of the: Chinese delegation, I wish to express our deepes’t thanks to them. In their statements the representatives of many friendly countries have paid a resounding tribute to the contributions and achievements Of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, This is a support and encouragement to the just cause followed by the Chinese people under the leadership of Chairman Mao. We am deeply moved. 61. Turning grief into strength, the entire Chinese people is determined to carry on the cause for which Chairman Mao fought, continue to implement firmly his revolutionary line and policies in foreign affairs, adhere to proletarian internationalism, strengthen the militant unity between the people of our country and the peoples of other countries, particularly those of the-third world, unite with all the forces in the world that can be united and carry the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism through to the end. Faithful to the teachings of Chairman Mao,

On 20 August 1976 the Secretary-General, acting in accordance with rule 59 of the provisional rules of procedure, circulated the application of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for admission to membership in the United Nations [S/12183]. Expression of thanks to the retiring President 62, The PRESIDENT: Before proceeding further with the business before the Council, I should like to take this opportunity to express the appreciation felt by all members of the Council for the outstanding services rendered to us by Ambassador Abe of Japan in his capacity as President of the Council for the month of August. Ambassador Abe’s diplomatic skill and wealth of experience were generously placed at the service of the Council, and he performed his functions in keeping with the highest tradition of the Council and his own great country. 66. Under the provisions of rule 59, unless the Security Council decides otherwise, such application shall be referred by the President of the Council to the Committee on the Admission of New Members. Accordingly, unless I hear a proposal to the contrary, I shall refer the application of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the Committee on the Admission of New Members for examination and report. Statement by the President 63, The PRESIDENT: At the same time, I should like to seize this opportunity to express the satisfaction felt by all members of the Council at the recent elevation of our former colleague here, Ambassador Louis de Guiringaud of France, to the important post of Minister for Foreign Affairs of his country. We shall miss his wisdom and experience here, and we wish him success in his new responsibilities.

As the time-limit provided in rule 59 of the provisional rules of procedure for submission of the Committee’s report to the Council has already passed, I assume that the Council wishes to ressort to the previous practice of waiving that provision of rule 59.

Mr. President I shall certainly convey to Mr. de Guiringaud the kind words you have said about him on behalf of the Council on the occasion of his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs of my country. I am sure he will appreciate them immensely. Notes 1 Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 2 A/AC. 109/PV. 1053, p. 2. HOW TO OBTAIN UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS United Nations publications may be obtainctl from bookstores and distributors throughout the world. Consult your bookstore or write to: United Nations. Salts Section, New York or Gcncvx COMMENT SE PROCURER LES PUBLICATIONS DES NATIONS IJNIES Les publications dcs Nations Unies sent cn ventc dnns Its librairics et Its agenccs dCpositaircs tiu monde cnticr. Inrormoz-vous aup& de votrc libraire oa adresscz-vous g : Nations Units. Sccrion dcs ventcs, New York OLI Gen6ve. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS Iss publicacioncs de las Nacioncs Unidas estln en venta en librerias y CBSBS distribtlidoras rn todas partrs del mu&o. Consulte a XI librero (1 dirijasc a: Nacioncs IJnidas. Seccicin de Ventas. Nueva York o G&bra. Litho in United Nations, New York 00300 83-60801-February 198S--2,200