To Yan Xishan
(December 22, 1936)
For the perusal of the honorable Vice-Chairman Baichuan:
The Shaanxi Incident has suddenly occurred under extraordinary circumstances.
From the telegraphic dispatches I have learned that you, sir, oppose the civil war
and that you have expressed your willingness to take part in "the joint effort to
maintain the overall situation." I very much admire you for making such a
statement, which is as brilliant as a maxim. We have decided to send you detailed information about the telegrams of the 15th and the 19th.1 For the sake of
the overall situation, we do not endorse any idea of rupture, nor shall we seek
revenge upon the Nanjing government. On the contrary, we are eager to help
coordinate efforts, along with you gentlemen and the rest of the country, to
mediate between the Nanjing government and Shaanxi. In all honesty, to do
otherwise would only bring great harm to the nation and great benefit to Japan.
At present the troops dispatched by Nanjing are stepping up their fierce attack on
Shaanxi, and it is my wish that you, sir, can come up with some strong measures
to mediate between the two sides. As for the Red Army, it will never launch any
attack on the territory controlled by Nanjing, so long as it stops its policy of
"suppressing Communism," endorses the united front, joins in resisting Japan,
and designates an appropriate defense zone. As for the areas in Shanxi and
Suiyuan under your honorable leadership, we previously sent Peng Yufeng to see
you and present to you our humble proposal. For the past several months, you
and General Fu have been fighting heroically in Suiyuan and the Northeast
against the enemy, launching a mass patriotic movement, and disbanding the
anti-Communist association, all of which is most particularly worthy of admiration. At this point, however, the conflict between Nanjing and Shaanxi is extremely urgent, and if the Nanjing side persists in its attacks and nothing can be
done to mediate, it will be hardly possible for the Red Army just to sit back and
watch. If the scope of the war expands, we shall need your assistance in many
respects. I respectfully beg your guidance as to how the four provinces of
Shanxi, Suiyuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu can be made to unite closely as a single
force, thus giving their statements on the affairs of the country a much stronger
impact. It is now imperative to establish quickly telegraphic communication
between us and to establish messenger stations between Jixian and Yan'an-Chang'an. If we are favored with your consent, the transceiver can begin to
operate immediately on January 15. Your side can be in charge of the messenger station in Jixian, and our side may take charge of the station in Yan'an-Chang'an. One ferry boat is to be available on each side of the Pingdu Pass. Each
side designates someone to be in charge of communications, and no military
personnel from either side is to cross the river. It is also sincerely hoped that
economic and trading relationships can be established as soon as possible between Shanxi and Shaanxi and that normal relations can be restored. This spring
Mr. Qu Xiangxian, the xian magistrate of Jixian, came to Shaanxi along with the
army and worked in our educational department for several months. Mr. Qu is
truly a gentleman, and he is very familiar with our policy toward the united front
against Japan. He is welcome to come here at any time. I am truly and deeply
grateful to you for the many kindnesses you have shown to Peng Yufeng during
his stay where you are, and I beseech you to give him guidance whenever he
needs it, so that he may have something to go by. I await your instructions in all
matters.
Wishing you every good fortune!


--- Notes

We have translated this document from Mao Zedong shuxin xuanji, pp. 95-97, where it is
reproduced from a manuscript copy.
Respectfully submitted by Mao Zedong
--- Notes

1. The reference is to the telegrams of these dates, addressed to the Guomindang,
translated above.