"A significant power struggle is probably already in progress over the succession to the Chinese leadership," Lucian W. Pye, professor of Political Science at M.I.T. told a meeting of Americans for Reappraisal of Far Eastern Policy last night.

The struggle, Pye said, will probably do great damage to the Chinese society and in the beginning it will probably manifest itself through intensified Maoist policies. It is inconceivable that anyone will be able to challenge the great Maoist tradition in the near future, Pye said, but this rigid period is not apt to be very extended.

In dealing with China, Pye explained, it has always been very difficult to separate myth from reality. "Myth, of course is what you think and reality what I think," Pye added.

The American people, according to three-year-old polls, were in general apathetic about our relations with China. Recently, however, Pye continued, "it has become fashionable to deal with and be flexible over relations with China. I welcome the change in mood, but am pessimistic about the ability of the U.S. to influence Chinese policy." If this turns out to be the case, Pye said, then there is the distinct possibility of a backlash by disillusioned Americans which will make future relations with the Chinese more difficult.

"I don't believe in the potency of Chinese ideology; you have to be pretty sick to subscribe to it," Pye stated. The world does not look to China for leadership of the social revolution, he continued, "China has made too many mistakes and its bluff has been called too many times."

There seems a fairly good chance that after the intensified Maoist period, China will adopt a new form of Communism to its varied culture, Pye said. It will be a Communism of a more relaxed nature, with greater decentralization and a better chance to be integrated with other countries, Pye added.

China seems to have broken all the rules. It is simultaneously at odds with the United States, Russia, and India; for any other country this would be political suicide, Pye said.

What will be the problems facing the U.S. with regards to China? There are two basic factions which determine our policy toward China, and they are not on speaking terms, Pye said. There is the clique of economic and political developers who don't really like to admit that they are an integral part of the cold war effort. Then there are the Sinocentric experts who feel that you have to deal directly with Peking, "and that the surrounding countries are merely pygmies."

There must be a new generation of scholar-politicians, scholars who are at home in the political world and who can turn our increased knowledge to the benefit of the politicians.

There are new forces emerging in the Far East, Pye continued, and we must learn a new and flexible, marginal role in the power struggle. Japan and India will certainly turn from their internal revolutions to external leadership, and there is reason to believe that this groping for a framework of power distribution will not be entirely tranquil, Pye said.

China's entry into the U.N. poses some difficult questions, Pye admitted. While both the United States and Russia disagree within the framework of the U.N., China might prove a more revolutionary member and try to radically change the power structure, he said.