If They Share the Aim of Exterminating the
Communists, Even Enemies Are Our Friends
(December 5, 1925)

The telegram of Liu Zhilu et al., after listing the eight crimes of the national
government, adds a sigh, "Alas," and continues, "In short, bring out the troops
who will quell the disturbance, punish their crimes, and save the people. If they
share the common aim of exterminating the Communists, even enemies are our
friends. The upright army is the stronger; victory need not wait until battle is
joined. He who receives [the support of] heaven will prosper; it is not hard to
distinguish between benevolence and violence." All of those listed in Liu's telegram, such as Chief Executive Duan Qirui, all ministers and vice ministers, the
inspectors general, provincial governors, and commanders Zhang, Xiao, Zhao,
Fang, and Zhou,¹ and even Messrs. Cen, Wu, Kang, and Liang,² of course share
the aim of exterminating the Communists. But do not Governor Clementi³ of
Hong Kong and Prime Minister Baldwin in London share this aim as well?
These high positions are not on the list. Furthermore, Governor Clementi has
helped out with a good deal of money and military supplies, and he has also
protected Commander-in-Chief Chen by setting up a general headquarters in
Hong Kong. His anti-Communist resolve shines like the sun, but his exalted
office has been omitted from the list. I really do not understand what this means!
The statement at the end of the telegram, "the upright army is the stronger," must
be classed as even more mixed up. Actually, he has written a hymn to the merits
and virtues of the national government.

This text appeared in Zhengzhi zhoubao, No. 1, December 5, 1925. Our source is Mao
Zedong ji, Vol. 1, p. 117.
1. I.e., Zhang Zuolin, Zhao Hengti, Fang Benren, and Zhou Yinren.
2. I.e., Cen Xilin, Wu Peifu, Kang Youwei, and Liang Qichao.
3. Sir Cecil Clementi was governor of Hong Kong from November 1925 to February
1930.
4. Stanley Baldwin organized his second cabinet and became prime minister in November 1924, and remained in office until May 1929.