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May 13, 1950

Ciphered Telegram, Roshchin to Cde. Filippov [Stalin]

This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation

Ciphered Telegram                     

 

Strictly Secret

Making copies is forbidden

[Stamp: “Declassified 14 December 1993”]

 

From PEKING

 

For immediate report to comrade Filippov [Stalin].x/

 

Today on May 13, at 23 hours 30 minutes Zhou Enlai paid a visit to me and, following the instructions of Mao Zedong, let me know the following:

 

1. Kim Il Sung and minister of foreign affairs of the Korean People’s-Democratic Republic Pak Heon-yeong arrived in Peking on May 13 this year.

 

2. In the evening comrade Mao Zedong has had a meeting with them. In the conversation with comrade Mao Zedong the Korean comrades informed about the directives of comrade Filippov that the present situation has changed from the situation in the past and, that North Korea can move toward actions; however, this question should be discussed with China and personally with comrade Mao Zedong.

 

3. The Korean comrades will stay in Peking for 2 days.

 

In connection with the abovementioned comrade Mao Zedong would like to have personal clarifications of comrade Filippov on this question, which, according to the previous telegram from comrade Filippov transferred by the [Soviet] Ambassador [to China] comrade [N.V.] Roshchin, were to follow in the coming days.

 

The Chinese comrades are requesting an urgent answer.

 

13/5-50. Roshchin

 

——————

x/ Pseudonym I.V. Stalin. [Ed. note: In the photocopy provided by the Russian Government to South Korea.]

The telegram relays a request from Mao, conveyed via Chinese Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai, seeking Stalin’s “personal clarifications” of his stand on a potential North Korean action to reunify the country. Mao sought the information after hearing a report from Kim, who had arrived that day in the Chinese capital for a secret two-day visit and clearly claimed that he had received Stalin’s blessing.



Document Information

Source

Russian Presidential Archives. Given by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to South Korean President Kim Young-Sam in Moscow, June 1994.

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Original Uploaded Date

2012-12-04

Type

Cable

Language

Record ID

115977

Original Classification

Strictly Secret

Donors

Leon Levy Foundation