OPEN CABLE MESSAGE FOR ARMISTICE AND NEGOTIATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING
ALLIANCE AGAINST JAPANESE AGGRESSION
5 May 1936

[Text] The Military Commission of the Nanking National Government, the
entire army, navy, and air force, all parties, factions, organizations,
and newspaper publishers of the entire nation, and all compatriots unwilling to become stateless slaves:

Ever since the Soviet Central Government and the Revolutionary Military
Commission of the Chinese Red Army organized the Resist-Japan Vanguard
Army of the Chinese People's Red Army to cross the river and march east,
the Vanguard Army was victorious wherever it went, and the entire nation
responded. Nevertheless, just when it occupied the T'ung-p'u railway and
actively prepared to march east to Hopeh and make direct contact with
Japan, Chiang Kai-shek sent over 10 divisions to Shansi, cooperated with
Yen Hsi-shan to block its path to resist Japan, and ordered Chang Hsuehliang and Yang Hu-ch'eng and the troops of northern Shensi to march on
the Red area in Shensi and Kansu and sabotage our resist-Japan rear.

The Resist-Japan Vanguard Army of the Chinese People's Red Army actually
should concentrate its entire strength to wipe out Chiang's troops blocking its path, in order to attain the goal of direct contact with Japan.
Nevertheless, after repeated consideration, the Soviet Central Government
and the Red Army Revolutionary Military Commission feel that, in face of
the national calamity, when we engage in battle, regardless of which side
wins, it will be a loss to China's national defense strength and only
please Japanese imperialism. Furthermore, among the troops of Chiang
Kai-shek and Yen Hsi-shan, there are many patriotic soldiers who wish to
stop the civil war and resist Japan together. Though obeying the orders
to block the path of the Red Army, they actually find it an act against
their conscience.

In view thereof, for the purpose of preserving the national defense
strengths in order to carry out the war to resist Japan, for the purpose
of firmly performing our proposal to the people of the nation to stop the

civil war and resist Japan together, and for the purpose of hastening the
final awareness of Chiang Kai-shek and the patriotic troops under him,
though many victories were gained in Shansi, the Worker-Peasant Democratic
Government and the Red Army Revolutionary Military Commission are withdrawing the People's Resist-Japan Vanguard Army to the west bank of the
Yellow River.  By this act, they express their sincerity to the Nanking
government, the army, navy, and air force, and the people of the entire
nation.  We hope, within 1 month, to cease all hostilities and negotiate
for peace with all the armed units attacking the resist-Japan Red Army
in order to attain our goal of resisting Japan together.

The Soviet Central Government and the Red Army Revolutionary Military
Commission hereby solemnly advise the gentlemen in the Nanking government:  At the critical moment of losing the nation and the race, you
should, according to reason, immediately repent and, with the spirit of
"brothers quarreling within the walls will defend themselves against the
outsiders together," stop the civil war on a national scale, first of all
in Shensi, Kansu, and Shansi.  Both sides must send delegates to discuss
the concrete measures to resist Japan and save the nation.  This will
benefit not only you gentlemen, but also the nation and the state.  If
you persist in your erroneous ways and continue to serve as spies and
traitors, your control will finally collapse, and you will be deserted
and overthrown by the people of the entire nation.  The proverb says:
"When a thousand men point their fingers, you die without illness."  It
also says: "Lay down the butcher knife and immediately become a Buddha."
We hope you will give the matter your serious consideration.

The Soviet Central Government and the Red Army Revolutionary Military
Commission appeal to all the organizations, parties and factions, and
people of the entire nation who are unwilling to become stateless slaves
to support our proposal to cease hostilities and negotiate for peace and
resist Japan together, organize an association to promote the cessation
of the civil war, and send delegates to block the firing line between the
two sides and to further and supervise the complete performance of our
proposal.

Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of the Central Government of the
Soviet People's Republic of China

Chu Teh, Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Commission
of the Chinese People's Red Army

5 May 1936

"Reference Material on China's Revolutionary History," Vol 3, Chinese
People's University, 1957

* "Yenan Revolutionary Museum," Cultural Publishing House, September

* "Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party in the Resist-Japan Period,"
"Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung," Vol 1, footnote 4