Telegram to Pan Hannian

(January 27, 1937)

Comrade Hannian:

Enlai has exerted his utmost in mediation. As a result, Yang Hucheng, Yu Xuezhong, Sun Weiru, He Zhuguo and others have already fully agreed to submit to the Central Government. However, the majority of division and regiment cadres in the Northeast Army firmly demand that Zhang Xueliang return to Xi’an for a visit, meet with the Northeast Army cadres once, deliver a speech, and then immediately withdraw the troops; otherwise, they will fight. In my opinion, it would be well for Chiang Kai-shek to allow Zhang to come to Shaanxi once and then return to Nanjing, so that the troop withdrawal will not encounter twists and turns and this issue can be resolved very peacefully.

Mao Zedong

27th