Cable from the Chinese Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ‘The Vietnamese Embassy’s Handling of the Soviet Suppression of Students’

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cable

Level: Extra Urgent Advance / For the Moscow Desk / Received (65) No. 421

The Vietnamese Embassy’s Handling of the Soviet Suppression of Students

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

According to reports by Vietnamese students, the Vietnamese embassy in the Soviet Union has taken the following actions in response to the Soviet repression of demonstrating students.

(1) Explained that the Vietnamese situation is different from that of China.  On March 6th before the meeting of Vietnamese students at Moscow University, the chairman of the student assembly consoled those of our students who were harmed, saying, "Currently, our most important mission for both North and South Vietnam is to fight against the American imperialists, and of course against revisionism.  Furthermore, our strategies in the fight against revisionism are different.  For example, China is large, powerful, and has a very popular government.  These things are very useful in the fight against revisionism, and you are able to speak directly.  We can't do things the same way."

(2) The chairman of the Vietnamese student assembly from the chemistry department at Moscow University told our students they are about to begin enter into negotiations with the Soviets concerning the protest through a party representative.  He said that they are preparing to begin using the party system to continue negotiations and temporarily will not use diplomatic  channels.  They hope to restore the ability to legally engage in protest.  Another Vietnamese student also told our students that the Vietnamese embassy is going to protest against the Soviet actions on March 4th.

(3) A Vietnamese student from the University of Moscow Textiles College said that all of the Vietnamese students in her department has organized a student strike.  A representative from the Vietnamese embassy was sent to visit them, saying that for the time being it may not be appropriate to demonstrate in this manner.  However, the Vietnamese students did not listen and continued their strike.  The Vietnamese students from the 1st Architecture College began a hunger strike in protest, but the Vietnamese embassy thinks that is unnecessary.

(4) The Vietnamese embassy has already notified the Vietnamese students that if America continues to bomb Vietnam, then they will continue to engage in protests.

(5) According to reports by Vietnamese students, they have already put together a public letter which they intend to give to the Soviets and other nationalities' student unions in Moscow, and it is currently being copied.  Part of the letter addresses the issue of opposing imperialism, and the other in concerned with the Soviet suppression of protesters.

From the Embassy in the Soviet Union

March 8th 1965