On the Question of Opposing the War between
the Warlords of Jiangsu and Zhejiang

(Central Circular no. 17)

(September 10, 1924)

The war being waged between Jiangsu and Zhejiang¹ is clearly one manifestation of the struggle between warlords for territory and of the manipulation of
Chinese politics by international imperialism. Any words and deeds in favor of
whatever side of the war serve to boost the arrogance of the oppressive forces at
the expense of the interests of the people. Our proper task during the present war
is simply to expose the true nature and context of the war to the people, letting
the people know that there is no way to achieve peace in China under this
twofold oppression. Every time, the chaotic wars among warlords only increased
the suffering and enslavement of the populace. People cannot pin their hopes, to
the slightest extent, on any wars between warlords, and the only chance of saving
China is the national revolution. We should make the most of this war as concrete teaching material, and work even harder to make propaganda in favor of
the national revolution and to arouse the popular masses to organize the veritable
force of the national revolution! The Central Bureau has decided to issue a
declaration on the current political situation in this connection, making known
our Party's position on the present war! The declaration is already being printed
and will be sent to all localities within the next few days. Our Party organizations
at different levels should give orders immediately after receiving this circular
that all Party members must go into action; they must on no account let matters
drift, and relinquish this incomparable opportunity of conducting propaganda!

Our translation is based on Zhonggong zhongyang wenjian xuanji, Vol. 1, 1921-1925, pp.
285-86, where the text is followed by the indication "based on the original document in
the Central Party Archives."
1. This war had broken out on September 1, 1924. The military governor of Jiangsu,
Qi Xieyuan (1897-1946), zi Fuwan, was a native of Hebei, and a member of the Zhili
faction. Lu Yongxiang, the military governor of Zhejiang, was supported both by Zhang
Zuolin of the Fengtian faction and by Sun Yatsen in Guangzhou. The immediate object of
their clash was control of Shanghai and Songjiang, over which Lu claimed authority
though they were part of Jiangsu Province. For details of this complicated struggle, which
involved most of the leading warlords in China and ended in the defeat and exile of Lu
Yongxiang, see Li Chien-nung, Political History of China, pp. 468-70.

As for our approach in this work, all activities must be in line with the instructions given in this circular and in the declaration. If there are Party organs at any
level or individuals speaking or acting independently, they would be regarded
without exception as violators of Party discipline.

Chairman: T. S. Chen
Secretary: T. T. Mao