76-09-B2
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China
TranscriptLast year the death of Mao Tse-tung brought a spate of eulogies from prominent figures here in America. The general tenor was that he had been a great leader who brought order to the vast reaches of China. Some of our own elected officials were practically euphoric and came close to conferring sainthood on this -- QUOTE -- "great and good man" -- UNQUOTE. Echos in the same euphoric tone have been heard from some observers who have visited Red China since his death. I commented on this and disputed their findings recently on one of these programs calling attention to the great famines the people of China suffered under the rule of Chairman Mao. These famines were not imposed by natural causes, but resulted from just the plain mismanagement and inefficiency which characterizes communism. Now, there are rumblings and tremors hinting at internal disorder in the great land mass of China with its 700 million people. Apparently Chairman Mao, in his 27 year reign, not only failed to create a system of orderly transition of power but was also pretty thorough about getting rid of anyone who might look like a possible successor. Mao's declared principle was that China must be in a state of QUOTE -- "permanent revolution" -- UNQUOTE. But, he stage-managed a destructive system in a way that reveals him to have been a devious man, cunning and suspicious. Fearful of anyone who might challenge his authority, he took action against anyone who displayed ability or a talent for organization. In 1959, his old friend and comrade-in-arms, Minister of Defense Marshal Peng Te-huai, who had reorganized the armed forces, a strong and capable member of China's top echelon, was eliminated. In 1965, Liu Shao-chi, an able party administrator, was officially designated as Mao's successor. He was destroyed in short order. By 1971 Lin Piao was named successor and polished off before he had time to recognize that the honor carried with it a death sentence. Came 1976 and, over a period of several months, cancer stricken Chou-En-Lai and the only other friend and member of the leadership circle, Marshal Che Te died and with them Mao Tse-tung himself. Red China was left without any unified system of authority or leadership. A curtain of silence has tried to hide this fact, but now and then a momentary lifting of the curtain reveals sporadic incidents of disorder and even insubordination in the provinces. There is a feeling of instability; an expectation of change. Increasing cases of anti-Communist sabotage have resulted in military forces being put on constant alert in a number of provinces. In one, 12,000 outside troops were brought in to put down the disorders and prevent sabotage by the -- QUOTE -- "class enemy" -- UNQUOTE. Uneasy rests the crown on Mao's successor, Hua Kuo-feng. His lack of leadership is revealed in the positions he continues to hold. It is, of course, obvious he cannot function efficiently in all of them; Chairman of the Party, Prime Minister, Minister of Public Security, Chairman of the Military Commission, Member of the Politburo, First Secretary of the Hunan provincial committee and First Commissar of the Hunan military region. It all suggests this is no time for the U.S. to be without an effective counterintelligence apparatus. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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