582

Mao Zedong’s Telegram to Zhou Enlai and
Bo Gu Concerning Matters of Principle
in Negotiations with Zhang Chong1

(January 5, 1937, 10:00 P.M.)

Zhou, Bo:

I am transmitting to you [Pan] Hannian’s telegram of the 4th from Nanjing. He
and Zhang Chong are about to come to Xi’an, and my thoughts on how to handle
this matter are as follows:
1. Chiang [Kaishek] and Song [Ziwen] reproach us as acting in bad faith in
proclaiming the Xi’an agreement, to which we reply: after Chiang’s return,
Nanjing, in violation of the agreement and in violation of good faith, proclaimed
anew its guidelines for suppression of the Communists, once again sent troops
toward the Northwest, and held Zhang Xueliang under arrest.
2. I agree with Nanjing’s using political means to resolve problems arising
from what happened in the Northwest, but it must be under the following
conditions:
   a. Immediate withdrawal of troops;
   b. Immediate release of Zhang Xueliang and his return to Shaanxi;
   c. A guarantee that the Xi’an agreement will be carried out.
3. Views have been exchanged with Chiang and Song on the Three Major
Principles of the relationship between the two parties, and they have been clearly
acknowledged by Chiang and Song. Pan Hannian has been charged with full
powers to negotiate the specific details, and there is no need for Enlai to go to
Nanjing. After the withdrawal of troops, Zhang’s release, and the reorganization
of the government have been put into effect, thus proving that Nanjing still
wishes to show consideration for good faith, a trip can, however, be made to
Nanjing. At this time no one can prove that, after going to Nanjing, Enlai would
not become a second Zhang Xueliang.

We have translated this telegram from Dierci guogong hezuo de xingcheng, p. 175, where
it is reproduced from the original in the Central Archives.
583

4. Please consider this matter before Hannian and Zhang Chong come to
Xi'an, and do respond with great haste.
5. There should be constant radio contact.

Mao Zedong

--- Notes

1. Zhang Chong (1904–1941), a native of Zhejiang, had held various responsible
posts in the Guomindang hierarchy in Harbin and Tianjin and in the Propaganda
Department. In November 1936, he was elected to the Fifth Central Executive Committee.
Following the Xi’an Incident, he was sent as the Guomindang representative to conduct
discussions with Zhou Enlai.