The Nationwide Situation of Resisting Japan and Opposing Chiang Kai-shek and the Circumstances of Negotiations with the Nanjing Nationalist Government[1]

(June 28, 1936)

The development of the nationwide situation proves that the Central Committee’s estimation that the revolution has entered a new stage is entirely correct.

Nanjing, through its Vice Minister of Railways Zeng Yangfu, has replied to our letter, which we have received. The reply is full of talk about uniting to resist Japan, but in reality it rejects our conditions, hoping that the Red Army will move to the borders of Chahar, Suiyuan, and Outer Mongolia to trigger a war between Japan and the Soviet Union.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai, to be forwarded to Zuo Quan, Nie Rongzhen, Xu Haidong, and Cheng Zihua.