@*The Current Political Situation and the Tasks of the First Front Army and the Jiangxi Party—Resolution of the Joint Meeting of the General Front Committee of the First Front Army and the Jiangxi Provincial Action Committee—1930•10•26

(1) The Victory at Ji’an and the New Revolutionary High Tide

The occupation of Changsha and the continued serious offensive, the convergence of the First and Third Army Groups and the capture of the major city of Ji’an, this vigorous development of the Red Army’s power, coordinated with the sharp struggles of the proletariat in all major cities across the country and the development of Soviets in the rural areas, has brought the high tide of the Chinese revolution close to a general outbreak. In particular, the capture of Ji’an is the completion of the local insurrection in the place with the most organized masses, millions of them in southwestern Jiangxi, and the strongest foundation, with Soviet political power in more than ten counties. The victory at Ji’an is the beginning of the victory for the entire province of Jiangxi. This victory is the first capture of a major city in the several years of fighting by the Red Army and the masses. It not only helps the Red Army develop forward on a stronger foundation, it not only will call upon the revolutionary masses of all of Jiangxi to complete the general insurrection in Jiangxi in the near future, but it is also of great significance for advancing the revolutionary forces nationwide and for striving for the victory of the revolution nationwide. Undoubtedly, we should continue to build on the victory at Ji’an and strive for the victory of Jiangxi first.

The Current Political Situation and the Tasks of the First Front Army and the Jiangxi Party 159 160

(2) International Incidents and the Development of the World Revolution

Recent developments in international incidents, such as Italy and France preparing for war, the breakdown of Italo-French naval negotiations, France’s active expansion of its navy, the anti-German riots in Czechoslovakia, Britain’s bitter denunciation of the United States’ policy of raising tariffs, and the movement of seventeen South American republics organizing a South American alliance to oppose the United States, all show the tension of the first imperialist world war. American imperialism is instigating an economic blockade against the Soviet Union in Europe and America. Especially because the Soviet Union has recently been dumping wheat at low prices in America, causing a disastrous plunge in American wheat prices and making it even more impossible to remedy its panic of overproduction in the countryside, its hostility toward the Soviet Union has intensified. The suppression of the communist movement and the arrest of leaders in various countries further indicate the intensification of the offensive against the Soviet Union. But on top of the irreconcilable contradictions that have arisen in the moribund period of imperialism, a furious tide of world revolution has been spurred. The great victory of the Chinese Communist Party in the recent French elections, the 140,000-strong strike of metal workers in Berlin against the government’s eight percent wage cut, the strike of dock workers in Málaga, Spain, which spread to Vitoria and caused a general strike, creating a situation of rebellion that the government, despite taking severe measures, could not suppress. The demonstration of fifty thousand workers in Hungary, the great anti-German demonstration of the Czech Communist Party. The general strike in the Polish capital protesting the government’s arrest of opposition leaders, the sudden revolution in southern Chile, the silk reel workers’ unrest in Japan escalating to armed conflict with police forces, the peasant uprisings in India, and the consolidation and development of socialist construction in the Soviet Union, which in agricultural products alone has already surpassed American agricultural products—all these demonstrate that the world revolution is unfolding in a surging tide. This situation is extremely favorable to the Chinese revolution and will transform the war of aggression against the Soviet Union into a war to win the victory of the world revolution.

(3) Several Incidents in the Warlord Wars

A. After Jiang Jieshi captured Jinan, Zhang Xueliang sent out the “Qiao” telegram advocating peaceful unification and awaiting the disposition of the Nanjing government.
B. Zhang Xueliang led three armies through the pass and garrisoned Beiping and Tianjin. Recently, he also sent a telegram advocating the convening of a rehabilitation conference in Beiping to discuss the problem of what he calls “striving to save the nation.”
C. Jiang Jieshi issued two important telegrams: one, requesting the Guomindang government to grant amnesty to political prisoners, pardoning all except Chen Jiongming, Yan Xishan, and the Communists. Two, convening the Fourth National Congress of the Guomindang to decide on convening a National Convention and promulgating a provisional constitution. A message to the nation stated that the suppression of the (Communists was limited to three months, and by six months, the entire situation would be rectified). Liu Luyin, head of the Central Propaganda Department in Nanjing, reported to a Japanese newspaper correspondent on the five items for rectifying the situation in the Northeast: “clarifying finances, purifying the administration, developing the economy, and implementing various forms of self-government…” He also said, “Japanese government diplomats and officials in China have actually allowed Japanese newspapers to sow discord within our country’s borders, which makes us unable to help but suspect their deliberate manipulation.” He also said, “The Englishman Simpson assisted Yan in forcibly occupying the customs, and should be guilty of the crime of participating in a foreign country’s internal strife. Our country has protested several times without any response. We believe that the British diplomatic authorities in China are irresponsible, and the British government itself is not worth a damn.”
E. Jiang Jieshi occupied Zhengzhou. Feng Yuxiang’s troops, according to reports, were partly disarmed by Jiang, partly surrendered to Jiang, and partly retreated to northern Henan, with talk of an offensive into Shanxi.
F. Jiang Jieshi has transferred Xu Yuanquan, Zhu Jinyu, Chen Cheng, Xia Douyin, Cai Tingkai, Jiang Guangnai, Yue Weijun, Xiao Zhichu, and others back to Hubei, and moved the troops of Tan Daoyuan, Jin Handing, Xu Kexiang, Peng Qibiao, Mao Bingwen, Li Yunjie, Tang Yunshan, and others into Jiangxi to suppress the revolution.

The Current Political Situation and the Tasks of the First Front Army and the Jiangxi Party 161

(4) Assessment of These Incidents

A. The war between Jiang, Yan, and Feng is the war between Britain, Japan, and America. Japan, taking advantage of the tense conflict between Britain and America, is in a pivotal position, opportunistically compromising with America and Jiang to allow its running dog, the Fengtian Zhang, to gain territory in Hebei. As expected, both Britain and America could not but make concessions to him, and consequently, both Jiang and Yan could not but acknowledge the entry of Fengtian Zhang’s troops.
B. The occupation of Changsha and the continued serious offensive, as well as the capture of Ji’an, have not only brought about a broad transformation in the situation of the Chinese revolution but have also similarly transformed the relationships among the ruling classes. That is to say, the development of the revolutionary forces and the fundamental contradictions between classes have made imperialism and the Chinese ruling class desperately want to ease their own conflicts and unite to deal with the revolution. American imperialism certainly feels that under the Nanjing government it controls, the revolutionary forces are an increasing threat and that this is necessary. Even Japanese imperialism naturally feels that the victory of the Chinese revolution would first and foremost be disadvantageous to Japan, so a temporary compromise between Japan and America is possible, and Jiang also has no choice but to pull in Zhang to end the war quickly. On the part of British imperialism, suppressing the Chinese revolution is also an urgent need. Furthermore, under the Japan-America alliance and the disastrous defeat of Yan and Feng, it too has no choice but to temporarily submit. Under this temporary alliance of imperialist warlords against the revolution, Jiang Jieshi has the need and the possibility to transfer large forces from the front lines to attack the revolution. At the same time, suppressing the Chinese revolution requires new reformist and deceptive policies. Therefore, around the time of the occupation of Kaifeng and Zhengzhou, Jiang Jieshi, taking advantage of his military victory, issued a series of telegrams proposing reformist and deceptive policies, attempting to establish counter-revolutionary leadership. The so-called amnesty for political prisoners and convening of a National Convention are in reality an acceptance of the Reorganization Faction’s platform, attempting to win over the petty and middle bourgeoisie, while at the same time winning over Feng’s subordinates to oppose Yan, organizing an anti-communist alliance led by the Jiang clique, that is, led by America, to suppress the Chinese revolution. This is not only to contend for the leadership of the counter-revolution in China.