Key Points for Negotiations with the Kuomintang[1]

(May 25, 1937)

Zhou:

Regarding the issue of meeting with Chiang for negotiations, in addition to agreeing to the points raised in your telegram, the following points should be added: (A) Matters to raise with Chiang and inquire about his policies: (1) Defending Suiyuan and Qingdao, recovering eastern Hebei and northern Chahar, opposing smuggling, opposing economic collaboration, the Anglo-Japanese London negotiations, and other issues concerning Japan; (2) The issue of alliance with Russia; (3) The issue of collective security in the Pacific; (4) Preparations in national defense, military affairs, and finance; (5) The issue of removing traitors and pro-Japanese elements from the government. (B) Points that must be vigorously pursued: (1) The list of nine members for the Special Region Government Committee shall be Lin Boqu, Zhang Guotao, Qin Bangxian, Xu Teli, Dong Biwu, Guo Hongtao, Gao Gang, Zhang Chong, and Du Bincheng. (2) The Red Army shall establish a General Headquarters for a certain Route Army, with Zhu De as Commander-in-Chief and Peng Dehuai as Deputy Commander-in-Chief (but be prepared to concede by establishing a General Command). There shall be at least four divisions: First Division Commander Lin Biao, Second Division Commander He Long, Third Division Commander Xu Xiangqian, Fourth Division Commander Liu Bocheng. The above six individuals shall be announced first, with the rest to be submitted for appointment later. To strengthen anti-Japanese political education, the political department system shall remain as before (but be prepared to concede by establishing a Political Training Office). (3) Prohibit acts such as the violent assault on students by Tao Xisheng and Yang Likui in Beiping, the seizure of Liberation Daily and books in Xi’an, the arrest of Communist Party members in Shanghai, the suppression of Cultural Construction magazine, and other actions that undermine cooperation between the two parties. (4) Prohibit the use of bandits, hooligans, and secret societies to undermine the Red Army and the Soviet Area. (5) Expand the defense areas of the Red Army.

Luo, Bo, Mao

Youwu

The Main Points in the Talks
with the Guomindang
(May 25, 1937, midday¹)

Zhou [Enlai]:
With regard to the questions for discussion in negotiations with Chiang, besides
the ones you mention in your telegram, on which we agree, the following points
should be added:
1. Matters that should be raised with Chiang, and regarding which his policies should be probed:
a. Questions concerning Japan, such as defending Suiyuan and Qingdao, recovery of eastern Hebei and northern Chahar, combating smuggling and
economic guidance,² the British-Japanese talks in London, and so on;
b. The question of alliance with Russia;
c. The question of collective security in the Pacific;
d. Military and financial defense preparations;
e. The question of Chinese traitors and pro-Japanese elements withdrawing
from government office.
2. Things that you must do your best to bring about:
a. That the nine-member committee of the Special Region Government consists of Lin Boqu, Zhang Guotao, Qin Bangxian, Xu Teli, Dong Biwu, Guo
Gongtao, Gao Gang, Zhang Chong, and Du Bincheng.
b. That the Red Army sets up a general headquarters for a certain route army³
with Zhu De as commander-in-chief and Peng Dehuai as deputy commander-in-chief (but be prepared to make concessions to set up, instead, a
general headquarters), and at least four divisions, with Lin Biao as commander of the First Division, He Long, of the Second, Xu Xiangqian, of
the Third, and Liu Bocheng, of the Fourth. First announce the above-mentioned six names, and the rest will be submitted for appointment later. In
order to strengthen anti-Japanese political education, the current political
department system should be maintained (but be prepared to make concessions, and set up a political instruction section instead).

Our source for this text is Wenxian he yanjiu, No. 4, 1985 (pp. 214-15 of the annual volume).

--- Notes

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong, Luo Fu (Zhang Wentian), and Bo Gu (Qin Bangxian) to Zhou Enlai.


1. Here Mao indicates the time of day by a character which means between 11:00
A.M. and 1:00 P.M.

2. The term "economic guidance" apparently refers to Japanese intervention in
"autonomous" areas of China.

3. I.e., the Eighth Route Army, which had not yet been officially so designated.