What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold open. This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning U.S. intelligence on Chinese Communist attitudes toward the Soviet Union, dated September twentieth, nineteen fifty. The cable is notable because it offers an early assessment of the relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union during the Korean War period, and it was released through the Black Vault archive. Provenance. The document was made publicly available by the Black Vault in a digitized text file, released without a specific Freedom of Information Act case number. The declassification authority is listed as the Central Intelligence Agency, and the release date on the archive is recorded as the date of upload. The canonical URL for the source is https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00485/CI00485djvu.txt. The document. Department of State, cable number seven one seven, September twentieth, nineteen fifty. “Secretary of State, ... Assistant Secretary ... priority. Following today’s conversation regarding attitude toward Korea, reference eight one six, September twentieth, read second message from Pannikar which he described as an ‘evaluation of Chinese Communist attitude towards Soviets.’ Paraphrase thereof which he supplied reads as follows: ‘Weakness of Soviet policy and their own unhappy experience in the past of direction of political strategy in the east from distant Moscow is likely to make them follow their own line. While leaning to the side of the Soviets, the turn of events in Korea has helped to bring home to Chinese leaders that it is necessary to emphasize the very considerable influence which non‑Communist leaders have in present regimes. The idea that they are only figureheads is not true. In fact even in internal matters like land reforms, educational policy, et cetera, Mao Tse‑tung has been anxious to carry non‑Communist opinion with him, and has modified long‑cherished policies. The failure of the Korean adventure has strengthened the hands of this group. While China is desirous of obtaining technical assistance and capital goods from the Soviets, the tendency has been not to accept political leadership. Stalin’s name is seldom mentioned in papers and portraits of Stalin are altogether absent. In fact, while China is undoubtedly associated with the Soviets, she is not a satellite and consequently success or failure of Soviet policy on major issues has no repercussion on Chinese attitude. Badpad gave his opinion in reading and discussing the above quoted and immediate preceding message from Pannikar that he felt, and they were a complete vindication of Government of India hopes for evolution of Chinese Communist attitude both regarding extension of hostilities in the Far East and vis‑à‑vis the USSR. He was obviously pleased to supply paraphrases of these messages and said he very much hoped that they would be understood and appreciated.’ End of document. Context. No additional contextual statement was issued…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-008Declassified

Filed NOV 3 · 2026Runtime 1 min

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning U.s

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 3, 2026

cold-war

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold open. S. intelligence on Chinese Communist attitudes toward the Soviet Union, dated September twentieth, nineteen fifty. The cable is notable because it offers an early assessment of the relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union during the Korean War period, and it was released through the Black Vault archive.

Date: NOV 3 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Cold open. This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning U.S. intelligence on Chinese Communist attitudes toward the Soviet Union, dated September twentieth, nineteen fifty. The cable is notable because it offers an early assessment of the relationship between the People’s…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning U.s about?: Cold open. S. intelligence on Chinese Communist attitudes toward the Soviet Union, dated September twentieth, nineteen fifty. The cable is notable because it offers an early assessment of the relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union during the Korean War period, and it was released through the Black Vault archive.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

cold-war

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Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning U.s

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