-100-
(Classification)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
● R BRIEFING NOTE
GIST:
Chicoms Condemn NPT
DATE: June 12, 1968
TIME:
COMMENTS CONTAINED IN INR BRIEFING NOTES ARE INITIAL AND TENTATIVE.
TO:
The Director, INR
SOURCE(S)
CLASS./CONTROL(S)
FDIS 29 6/11
(Peking NCWA)
In a speech at a reception at the Nepalese embassy in Peking, CPR Foreign Minister Ch’en Yi condemned the NPT as an "out-and-out unequal treaty." He called it a "major plot to preserve nuclear monopoly by big powers and to oppose China and the people's of the world."
COMMENT: This was China’s first reaction to the NPT vote, although its frequent attacks on the treaty in the past had made its stand on the issue clear long ago. Indeed, Ch’en’s remarks were a bit milder than the earlier Chinese commentary; this was probably to spare the Nepalese, who had voted for the treaty, some embarrassment. We expect the Foreign Ministry or some important *xixix* organ like *People’s Daily* to come out with a major blast at the treaty in the near future.
INR ● CE
USA
BRIEFER
Hurwitz/Keogh
EXTENSION
5097
-100-
(Classification)
NW 31097 DocId:33061196 Page 10