Molotov at a meeting of foreign ministers in Geneva. April 29, 1954
Source: Soviet-Chinese relations. 1952-1955: Collection of documents. 2015. pp. 178-182
True. Apr 30, 1954
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Delegates!
At the present conference in Geneva it was decided to consider two questions: firstly, a peaceful settlement of the Korean question and, secondly, the question of restoring peace in Indochina.
It can be said that the Geneva meeting is devoted to Asian issues. Both Korean and Indo-Chinese issues are among the most pressing issues in Asia.
In this regard, it cannot be overlooked that only a few Asian countries are present at this meeting. We cannot but feel hurt by the fact that a number of Asian states, such as India, Indonesia, Burma, Pakistan and others, are not participating in our conference, although this would be very valuable from the point of view of the interests of the cause.
At the same time, one should not underestimate the fact that for the first time in recent years all the great powers are participating in this conference: France, Great Britain, the United States of America, the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union. In this regard, it must be especially emphasized that the great power of Asia, the People's Republic of China, will be able to contribute to the work of our meeting on the above-mentioned topical issues of the situation in Asia.
The meeting, in its current composition, begins its work with questions related to Korea.
We have been given the task of creating a united and independent Korea by peaceful means. The solution of this problem is of paramount importance for the Korean people and, at the same time, would be an important factor in reducing international tension.
Of course, the solution of the Korean question is primarily the business of the Koreans themselves, the business of the Korean people themselves. No solution imposed on the Korean people by other countries can satisfy the Korean people or serve to a lasting settlement of the Korean problem. [...]
Everyone knows that the Japanese imperialists, having seized Korea, made the territory of the Korean Peninsula the main springboard for unbridled aggression against China, against the Chinese people. They sought to extend their rule over all of China and all of Southeast Asia. To do this, they entered into an alliance with Hitler's Germany, concluded the so-called "anti-Comintern pact" and, under the pretext of "fighting communism", made plans to divide the world together with German imperialism.
Everyone remembers how it ended. The Japanese militarists suffered a defeat in the autumn of 1945 and were driven back. Korea got the opportunity to free itself from the clutches of the Japanese militarists and start a new, free, independent life.
Since, as a result of military circumstances, immediately after liberation from Japanese occupation, Korea was divided into two parts - North and South, the Korean people faced the task of restoring the unity of Korea and forming a single and independent democratic Korean state. [...]
The most important task of the Geneva Conference is to assist the Korean people in restoring the unity of Korea. [...]
In examining the Korean question, we cannot ignore the fundamental changes that have taken place in the political development of the countries of Asia in the recent period, especially after the end of the Second World War.
It is known that for many years, in some cases for several centuries, other, non-Asian states ruled in the countries of Asia, and the peoples of these countries were deprived of the opportunity to control their own destiny. This situation was the result of an aggressive, imperialist policy on the part of some states. But this policy has already discredited itself. At present, attempts to carry out the old colonial policy are ending in an increasingly obvious failure. At the Geneva Conference, this circumstance must be taken into account both when considering the Korean question and when considering the Indochinese question. [... ] Fundamental political changes in Asia have found their highest expression primarily in China, which has a population of more than 500 million people. Since then, how the People's Republic of China was formed and the solid foundations of the people's democratic system were laid here, it would be absurd to disregard this fact. Socio-economic and political transformations in China are taking place before everyone's eyes, and not to reckon with this means not to reckon with major events of historical significance.
Who, further, can deny that such a country as India, with a population of more than 300 million people, has also entered the historical arena. India until very recently was in the position of a colony. However, now no one can deny that India is occupying an ever more prominent place among the states that are defending their national independence and striving to take their important place in international affairs. The importance of such states as Indonesia, Burma and other countries is steadily rising. This does not mean that everything is going smoothly in the matter of establishing real independence for these states, without a struggle or any complications in relations with some states. However, what has been said indicates that Asia has indeed undergone major historical changes. This fact cannot be ignored when considering any topical issue,
It is necessary to dwell on the question of China, which occupies a special position in international affairs.
I do not have to reveal a secret if I say that strong friendly relations have been established between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. Many countries have also already established political and economic relations with the People's Republic of China. It is known that a country like England attaches great importance to the development of its relations with the People's Republic of China. It is also known that many other states have not established normal relations with the People's Republic of China for the sole reason that this is being prevented in every possible way from outside.
As for the United States of America, the Government of that country is openly pursuing an aggressive course towards the People's Republic of China. This aggressive course on the part of the United States affects, at the same time, the entire state of affairs in present-day Asia.
Everyone knows that there have been no acts of aggression against the United States of America on the part of the People's Republic of China. The situation is quite different when it comes to US policy towards the People's Republic of China.
Since the Chinese people expelled from their territory the bankrupt clique of Chiang Kai-shek, which did not think about the needs of the Chinese people, but was a mere servant of foreign capital, and the People's Republic of China was formed, one act of aggression has been carried out against it after another. The main responsibility for this lies with the ruling circles of the United States of America.
They seized the island of Taiwan, making the last of the Chiang Kai-shek clique master of this island. They prevent the People's Republic of China from taking its rightful place in the United Nations by all sorts of impermissible means. Moreover, they carried through the United Nations the decision to declare an embargo (prohibition) on trade with China. They are preparing the restoration of the armed forces of Japan, thus threatening China. They accused China of aggression in Korea, although the participation of Chinese volunteers in the war on the side of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was caused not only by completely natural friendly feelings towards the Korean people fighting for national freedom, but also by the security interests of China itself, to the border of which aggressive foreign troops approached . Openly preparing aggression against the People's Republic of China, Constantly threatening its borders with attacks from Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula, creating ever new military bases near Chinese territory, on the Pacific Islands and in Pakistan, the US ruling circles portray the matter as if the aggressor is China, not the United States. [...]
On April 16, American newspapers published a statement by the US Secretary of State, in which the formation of the People's Republic of China, which, as you know, took place with the good will of the Chinese people, is regarded as a "great catastrophe", meaning "the loss of mainland China." The statement also says that "this catastrophe will be multiplied if it is added to the loss of millions of people, vast economic resources and strategic positions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands."
In the above statement of the American leader there is not a word about the national interests and rights of the peoples of China, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands themselves. On the other hand, this statement clearly expresses the striving by all means to counteract the transition of the great Chinese people and other peoples of Asia from the old colonial and semi-colonial life to a new, free life, to a new democratic system. China's radical transformation is here seen as a "loss," even though China has never belonged to, nor intended to belong to, any foreign state. It is clear that the talk about "the loss of mainland China" expresses a craving for the obsolete colonial policy of imperialism and has nothing in common with the recognition of the principles of freedom and the national rights of the peoples.
The Geneva Conference provides an opportunity to get a comprehensive look at those Asian problems that are recognized as the most pressing at the moment. [...]
The head of the delegation of the People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai, expressed here the idea of the desirability of joining the efforts of Asian countries in the matter of ensuring peace in Asia. The Soviet delegation fully shares this opinion. As the European peoples in Europe, so also the peoples of Asia must take steps that would be in the interests of strengthening peace in Europe, Asia and the whole world. [...]
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