Conversation with Zhang Zongxun[1]

(January 3, 1937)

Chiang Kai-shek has agreed to stop the civil war. The Kuomintang and the Communist Party will cooperate to resist Japan, but there will still be struggles.

Releasing Chiang Kai-shek was correct. Some people[2] advocated killing Chiang Kai-shek, which was incorrect. Killing Chiang Kai-shek would benefit the pro-Japanese faction and would not benefit the resistance against Japan.

[1] On January 3, 1937, after leading the students of the Red Army University to Bao'an, Zhang Zongxun reported on the school's situation to Mao Zedong. Mao talked with him about the situation regarding Chiang Kai-shek's return to Nanjing after the peaceful resolution of the Xi'an Incident. This is part of the content of that conversation.

[2] Referring to Zhang Guotao.