On the Problem of Suspending Attacks and
Holding Negotiations
(November 9, 1936, 4:00P.M.)
Comrade [Zhang] Zihua:
We received your telegram of the 28th yesterday; our response is as follows:
I. Please inform Commissioner Chen [Lifu] and Mayor Zeng [Yangfu] that a
massive new attack by the Japanese is imminent. We urgently hope that the
Nanjing authorities will firmly maintain our national position and immediately
make preparations to fight a war of resistance. We are willing to do everything
possible to support you. You must under no circumstances make any concessions
that spell the loss of our territory or sovereignty and once again disappoint the
whole nation. You must fulfill Mr. Chiang Kaishek's promise made in his July
declaration to the people of the whole country.


2. At this critical moment of national crisis we formally declare: Provided
only that the Guomindang does not block the Red Army on its route to resist the
Japanese or invade the anti-Japanese rear of the Red Army, the Red Army is
willing to suspend its attacks against the troops of the Guomindang first as a
demonstration of our sincerity about ending the civil war and uniting to fight
Japan. We are calmly waiting for the Nanjing authorities to reply. Only if
Guomindang troops attack us will we be forced to take measures for self-defense
and launch necessary counterattacks.


3. We suggest that the Guomindang immediately order its various forces in
the Northwest to stop attacking the Red Army. Both sides will remain in their
previous positions so that they may send representatives to hold talks. As for
Enlai's flying to Guangzhou for talks, this is feasible on the condition that his
safety be fully guaranteed.


4. Before the Guomindang issues its order to suspend all attacks and the chief
representatives of both sides hold talks, we plan to authorize Comrade Pan
Hannian, who is in Shanghai, to hold talks with Chen and Zeng first. We hope
you will agree to this.


Mao [Zedong]
Zhou [Enlai]
Our source for this telegram is the 1985 annual compendium of Wenxian he yanjiu, pp.
196-97.