To All Comrades in the Various Levels of the Kuomintang:  Recently, we received a telegraph dated November 16 from Lin Sen and other members of the Central Executive Committee in Beijing, proposing to convene the Fourth Plenary Session of the Central Executive Committee at Xishan, outside Beijing. This proposal has been sternly rejected by a reply telegram from the Central Executive Committee itself.  From a legal standpoint, since the Third Plenary Session of the Central Executive Committee has already resolved that both the National Congress and the Central Executive Committee’s plenary sessions must be held in Guangzhou, no one may violate this decision. As for practical considerations, the Central Executive Committee’s plenary session is an open and public affair. Were it to be held in Beijing, it would face pressure from warlords externally, while internally reactionary elements might collude with the warlords to obstruct its proceedings. In April of this year, the Third Plenary Session of the Central Executive Committee, which had begun in Beijing, was forced to adjourn halfway through and proceed to Guangzhou for its continuation, precisely for these reasons. We should learn from past experiences. How could the Fourth Plenary Session possibly repeat the same mistake, thereby enabling the warlords and reactionary forces to carry out their plot to undermine the revolution?  Moreover, the Second National Congress was originally scheduled to meet in Guangzhou on August 15. However, owing to the Canton–Hong Kong General Strike, which disrupted transportation; the suppression of counter-revolutionary forces in Guangzhou; and frequent military engagements, the date had to be postponed repeatedly. Now, with the entire province of Guangdong unified and Guangzhou firmly established, even if transportation remains somewhat inconvenient, it does not constitute an obstacle to holding the meeting. Therefore, the Central Executive Committee has decided to convene the Fourth Plenary Session in Guangzhou on December 11 and the Second National Congress on New Year’s Day of the following year. We have already telegraphed Comrades Lin Sen and others, urging them to respect the resolution, to bear in mind the prevailing circumstances, and to come to Guangzhou without delay to attend the meeting, refraining from any dissenting views that might give rise to disputes. With the exception of Comrade Hu Hanmin, who is currently in Moscow, and Comrades Li Liejun and Bai Wenwei, who are engaged in official duties outside Beijing—both of whom have been consulted by telegram—our colleagues unanimously uphold the resolution of the Third Plenary Session of the Central Executive Committee, as well as the Central Executive Committee’s most recent stance, and are doing everything in their power to ensure their implementation.  We hereby make this declaration for your information and consideration.  Members of the Central Executive Committee: Wang Zhaoming, Tan Yanqai, Tan Pingshan, Lin Zuhuan, Li Dazhao, Yu Youren, Yu Shude, Wang Faqin, Ding Weifen, Enke Batu; Alternate Member of the Central Executive Committee: Mao Zedong, Qu Qiubai, Han Linfu, Yu Fangzhou, Zhang Guotao. Signed on November 27.


“Political Weekly,” Issue 1   Guangzhou Political Weekly Press   December 5, 1925


Notes:

--- Notes

 Here, “telegraph dated November 16” was originally printed as “telegraph (November 16)” in “Political Weekly,” which appears to be a typesetting error by the newspaper’s editors. The same error persists in Volume 1 of “The Collected Works of Mao Zedong.” It has been corrected here.—Editor’s Note