Regarding the Circumstances Surrounding
the Release of Chiang Kaishek
(December 25, 1936, at midnight)

Peng [Dehuai] and Ren [Bishi]:

The principle of restoring Chiang's freedom, under five conditions, for the purpose of transforming the orientation of the whole situation, is the result of the
negotiations we proposed. This has been completely accepted by Chiang and
Nanjing's Left-wing representatives. Last night I sent a telegram to Enlai to the
effect that Chiang should not be let go before they make sure that the prerequisite conditions are met and that the situation has developed to the point that there
would be no wavering after his release. But they have already released Chiang
Kaishek today, and Song Ziwen, Zhang Xueliang, and Song Meiling flew today
to Luoyang on the same plane. Judging from the circumstances, there are advantages to releasing Chiang, but whether or not the advantages have been realized
is a matter that remains to be confirmed subsequently according to the evidence.
The field army should still concentrate its forces in Xianyang immediately.

Mao Zedong

We have translated this text from the 1985 annual compendium of Wenxian he yanjiu, p.
203.