Calling the Forces on the West Bank
of the River the Western Route Army,
as Well as Problems Concerning the Title
of, and Selection of Persons for,
Its Leadership Organ
(November 8, 1936, 8:00 P.M.)
To seven comrades, including Zhu [De] and Zhang [Guotao], Xu [Xiangqian],
Chen [Changhao], and Li [Te]:
I. We basically agree with the suggestion that our troops on the west bank of
the river should form a front committee and a branch of the Military Affairs
Commission.' The forces on the west bank of the river should be called the
Western Route Army. Its leadership organ should be called the Military and
Political Commission of the Western Route Army and is to handle military,
political, and Party affairs. Changhao is to be chairman and Xiangqian vice-chairman. The rest of the names on the list are approved as given in their
telegram.
2. If you two elder brothers have any thoughts on the matter, please reply.
Zhang [Wentian]
Mao [Zedong]
Our source for this telegram is Mao Zedongjunshi wenji, Vol. I, pp. 656--57, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
I. On November 7, Chen Changhao, Li Te, and others had sent a telegram to the
Central Committee, summarized in note 2 to the present text in Mao Zedongjunshi wenji,
proposing these measures.
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