Speech at the Evening Party Welcoming the Central Inspection Delegation[1]

(May 29, 1937)

Today’s welcoming party is of great historical significance, because the era of the First Great Revolution was initiated by the two parties, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. Now the situation is even more different than it was then. The nation is in greater peril than at that time. The unity and solidarity of the two parties carry greater significance and a greater role in cooperation today than in the past. Over the past ten years, the two parties have not been united. Now the circumstances have changed. If the two parties fail to unite again, the nation will perish. The arrival of the Central Inspection Delegation brings the unity of the two parties into a new stage. Its significance is extremely great. I believe the following two points should be explained:

1. Some people doubt whether there is sincerity in the cooperation between the two parties, harboring suspicions toward both sides. Today’s facts, the arrival of the Inspection Delegation, illustrate this point. The political expressions of the Communist Party over the past two years, such as documents, manifestos, and negotiations, have all been aimed at the unity of the two parties. The policy of peacefully resolving the Xi’an Incident demonstrated the peace policy of both sides. Unafraid of the enemy’s provocations, we have never wavered from beginning to end. The past has already proven this point. What about the future? That must be proven through future work. In the future, the unity of the two parties should be consolidated, and democratic methods should be used to resolve certain contradictions that must be resolved (contradictions detrimental to unity), forming a solid bloc to deal with our enemies, so as to achieve the realization of national independence, democratic rights, and the well-being of the people’s livelihood.

2. Some people also suspect that both sides harbor schemes and intrigues in the cooperation between the two parties, that it is all a matter of temporary tactics. This, too, depends on whether our past work was destructive or conducive to unity. I think, after the Xi’an

[1] This is Mao Zedong’s speech at the evening party held by the Special Region Government to welcome the “Central Inspection Delegation” led by its head, Tu Sizong (Deputy Commander of the Kuomintang Fourth Army).

Speech at the Evening Party Welcoming the Central Inspection Delegation

Incident, the facts have shown everyone even more clearly that the direction is toward unity. This mainly depends on the future. At the same time, some people doubt whether the two parties have the sincerity for long-term cooperation. I think these are all conjectures. We hope that the two parties will cooperate over the long term and will strive toward this goal.

The Communist Party sincerely welcomes the Central Inspection Delegation, without the slightest pretense. Today’s welcoming party is a full manifestation of the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.