10 September 1976
Her Excellency Soong Ching-Ling
Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress,
Peking
I wish to express my own deep sympathy and that of the Australian people to the Chinese people for the great loss which they have suffered in the passing of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. I know that each member of the Chinese nation feels today as a family feels on the loss of its eldest and most respected member a sense of irreparable personal loss.
John R. Kerr,
Governor-General
His Excellency Hua Kuo-Feng,
Premier of the State Council,
Peking.
On the sad occasion of the death of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung I wish to convey my own deep sympathy and that of the Australian Government and people to your Excellency and to the* Government and people of China. The pageant of his long life and career provides a record of unique achievement in many fields. Above all, he was a great patriot under whose guidance and inspiration China regained its national respect and international influence. His was the. guiding hand as in recent years China emerged to play a major role in world affairs. The renascent China is his enduring memorial. Please also convey my condolences to his widow.
Malcolm Fraser,
Prime Minister
His Excellency Chiao Kuan-Hua,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Peking.
I wish to express the deep sympathy which the Australian people and I, personally, feel for the Chinese people in the loss of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung He was a towering figure in the world of action and in the world of thought. With China and the world we mourn his passing. Please also convey my condolences to Madame Chiang Ch'ing.
Andrew Peacock,
Foreign Minister