**Proclamation**

Whereas Japanese imperialism is running amuck in North China, and no one has stepped forward to stop it; and whereas Chiang Kai-shek, Yen Hsi-shan and Sung Che-yuan[1] are subservient to the foreign power and have become slaves to it; and whereas the subjugation of our entire nation is imminent; the Central Government of the Chinese Soviet People's Republic and the Military Commission of the Chinese People's Red Army have dispatched this army to march east to resist Japan. We are ready to unite with all patriots and revolutionaries, regardless of their past or present affiliations or their background, provided they sympathize with the struggle against Japanese imperialism, so that together we may carry forward the great cause of the national revolution. Wherever this army goes, it will protect the patriotic movement, the revolutionary people, the interests of the workers and peasants, the intellectuals, and industry and commerce. This army stands for the cessation of all civil wars and for uniting the Red Army and the White Army in the common fight against Japan. We are ready to enter into consultations or agreements with, or secure the understanding of, all patriotic soldiers, whether they actively join us in resisting Japan or passively refrain from opposing us and the anti-Japanese patriots. The arch-enemy of the Chinese nation is Japanese imperialism, and all Chinese people of the Han race, all our fellow countrymen who live on the produce of our land, should rise up as one man and unite to save the nation. "A hideous situation will arise if the skin does not exist on which the fur grows", and what will become of the individual if the nation perishes? We are raising the standard of justice throughout the land and launching a punitive expedition under Heaven's mandate. Let those with strength contribute strength, those with money contribute money, those with guns contribute guns, and those with knowledge contribute knowledge, so that each one of us may be a match for ten foes--such is our spirit. And let us pit ten against one--such is our strength. That the Chinese nation will not perish and that Japanese imperialism is bound to be overthrown is a certainty which brooks no argument. Those who are ignorant of the national interest, who truckle to the foreign power and oppress the people, or who go so far as to offer resistance to this army, are cutting themselves off from the people of the whole country, and this army will treat them as traitors and quislings. Workers, peasants, merchants, students and soldiers, unite! Down with Japanese imperialism! Down with the traitors and quislings! Long live the anti-Japanese national war! Long live a new China with freedom, equality and territorial integrity! This proclamation is hereby issued.

Peng Teh-huai
Commander-in-Chief

Mao Tse-tung
General Political Commissar

March 1, 1936

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[1] Yen Hsi-shan, see p. 371, Note 14 of this volume. Sung Che-yuan (1885-1940), a native of Loling, Shantung Province, was then Chairman of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council of the Kuomintang government and Commander of the Kuomintang 29th Army.