AUSTRA L A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 14 SEPTEMBER 1976
CONDOLENCE -MAO TSE-TUNG
Mao Tse-Tung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the
Chinese Communist Party, died on 9 September. He was the
principal architect of China since 1949 and one of the very
few men who have had a major impact on the course of world
hi story.
He led the Chinese Communist Party through a long and
destructive civil war and in his writings set out a new
conception of what China could be. Mao Tse-Tung devoted
his life to the vision of a rigorously egalitarian society,
and in pursuit of that vision he mobilized the vast energies
of the Chinese people.
For the first time in many decades Mao Tse-Tung gave'
China an effective administration, restored a country ravaged
by civil war, and secured the basic necessities of life to
China's people. He sought for China self-reliance. Under
his leadership China assumed a major role in world affairs.
Mao Tse-Tung's conception of the desirable organisation of a
socity was not ours. But he achieved peace internally
and respect for China. He came to symbolise . the new.
China for his own people and for the world.
In recent years under Mao Tse-Tung's leadership, China
began to adjust her -ideological objectives to the realities
of world power. His meeting in 1972 with the President of
the United States was a significant and deliberate step in
this process. For Australians, it is of considerable
significance that, as China's supreme leader, he lent his
rsonal authority to the establishment and further development
o{ f China's relations with Australia. In the closing
years of his life, important steps were taken in the improvement
of friendship and mutual understanding between China and Australia.
The loss of Mao Tse-Tung will be deeply mourned by the Chinese
people. I have publicly expressed, on behalf of the Australian
people, my sympathy for their loss, and was first to sign the
Book of Condolence in Canberra. The Australian Ambassador in
Peking has laid wreaths as a formal act of condolence. I am
sure this House would wish to place on record its sympathy for
the Chinese people in their loss. 2.
2.
I therefore move that this House record its sincere
regret at the death of Chairman Mao-Tse-Tung,
expresses to the people of China profound regret and
tenders its deep sympathy to his family in their bereavement.
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