ON ANTI-JAPANESE DEMOCRACY AND NORTH CHINA YOUTH
[Text] Question: How are the recent peace negotiations between the
Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party going?
Answer: The talks are still in progress. The common political program for
the two parties is of primary importance since it is the basis for their
cooperation. If there is no such program cooperation will not be complete,
and the principles underscoring the program are the revolutionary tasks of
nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood. On the reorganization of
the military and the transformation of the Soviets, these concrete tasks will
be carried out soon. So far, what the Kuomintang has expressed is still not
enough, for example the charges brought by the leaders of the save the nation
party of Shanghai. The various limitations set upon the rules and regulations
governing the national congress and the treatment of Shanghai textile plant
workers were quite disappointing.
Question: Has the danger of civil war been completely eliminated?
Answer: On the surface it appears that the danger of civil war has passed,
however it still exists although it is not significant now. If peace is said
to be wholly successful it will lead the people to slacken their efforts
in the movement to "consolidate peace." Cessation of civil war on a nationwide scale still has not been achieved today. The Communist Party on their
part has issued orders to Red troops dispersed all over the country to stop
fighting, but the Kuomintang troops are still carrying on with their annihilation offensives. Fighting is still going on along the border areas of
Fukien-Chekiang-Kiangsi, Hupeh-Honan-Anhwei, Hunan-Kiangsi, and the HunanHupeh-Kiangsi provinces, and we are requesting the Kuomintang to stop their
offensives against these areas. The opposition of Nanking and the local
areas also exist. Only through exercising absolute democracy can these
dangers of opposition and civil war be completely averted.
Question: What are the views of the Communist Party with regard to the various
factions in Nanking?

Answer: We are willing to join with all those Kuomintang elements who are
sympathetic with the national democratic revolution, as for those who are not
we shall carry out the work of explanation to make them understand and not
to interfere with the national democratic revolution. The Kuomintang left
wing's approval for peace and the movement for democratic war of resistance
is still developing, and they hope to see the entire country united, the Three
People's Principles of Dr. Sun Yat-sen revived, and the Kuomintang reformed
in order to revive its revolutionary spirit. A certain section of people are
not resolute enough, they do not unreservedly accept the tasks of national
democratic revolution and entertain doubts about cooperation between the
Kuomintang and the Communist Party. They are struggling against the impact
and the pull of the people's tasks which are pushing them to the side of the
people. Another body of people, the so-called pro-Japan faction, also exist
within the Kuomintang. The entire country, as well as the majority in the
Kuomintang, are very much dissatisfied with them. If they do not change
their attitudes they will be destructive to the people and to the Kuomintang.

Question: What kind of development was attained with regard to the United
Front after the Sian Incident?

Answer: There was development in the United Front Movement after the Sian
Incident, significantly the contact between the Kuomintang and the Communist
Party. There were also modifications in the attitude of suspicion toward
the policy of the Communist Party. They did not oppose the cooperation of
the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and there was also a diminishing in
the views held by the "leftists" opposing the peaceful solution of the Sian
Incident. However, distrust of the Nanking government still exists in literary
circles, the student bodies, and the media, because Nanking, so far, has
given no concrete expression of its willingness to thoroughly and resolutely
change over. Many erroneous things were still held on to by the government,
thereby leading to distrust throughout the nation. We say "everybody should
work," but the complete changeover of the Nanking government must wait for
the people to continue with their work and this is not necessary. There
is hope for a United Front in the future. There must be unity within the
country before we can attain the objectives of the war of resistance.
is quite obvious.

Question: What is the reaction of the various parties and factions within
the country toward the United Front idea?

Answer: With the exception of traitors, all other parties and factions are
in sympathy with the idea of nation-wide unity. Many of the bourgeois class
have welcomed and agreed with the policy of peace obtained by the Communist
Party during the Sian Incident. However, some of the obdurate personages
adopted an attitude of opposition. If these elements do not change their
attitudes they will be in actuality helping Japanese imperialism regardless
of what their subjective viewpoints are. In accordance with what we have
learned, it is precisely those traitorous elements who are directly under
the command of the Japanese who are the fiercest opponents of unity within

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the country. For instance, the likes of the Trotskyite elements are quite
obvious examples.
The activities of these elements are, beyond the shadow
of a doubt, the activities of traitors. In dealing with this portion of
people will use all available means to expose their plots so that they will
not be able to deceive the masses and have the people of all China recognize
them as the public enemy of the nation so that they will rise en masse and
attack them.

Question: How will the problem of opposition between Nanking and the factions
holding local powers be resolved?

Answer: The existence of this opposition between Nanking and the factions
holding local power will be a disadvantage in dealings with foreign matters.
It is our policy to diminish such oppositions as much as possible in order
to attain the objective of uniting against the foreigners. In order to achieve
such an objective the Nanking government and the various provinces should all
take a step toward rapprochement. Foremost, there must be progress on the
question of democracy, only thence can opposition be eliminated and we all
step onto the great road of united opposition against the Japanese.

Question: How can a suitable solution be worked out on the question of
class struggle in the policy of the United Front?

Answer: It will be impossible to eliminate class contradictions before the
class system is done away with. Faced with the war against Japan, we must,
however, seek a suitable solution for this problem. Therefore, in the program
of the United Front, we proposed giving the people democratic rights in the
political field, and improvement in livelihood in the economic field. It is
inevitable that workers and peasants will rise in opposition when they are
oppressed politically and economically, and this contradiction can be alleviated
only by giving them democratic rights and improving their livelihood. We will
set forth in the mutual political program now in the process of being negotiated
with the Kuomintang that the workers will have the freedom of assembly,
association, and speech and universal suffrage. Improvements must be made
in the treatment of workers and in their working conditions. As for the
peasants, there should be cuts in rents and taxes. With regard to the land
problem it should be settled through legislation and other suitable methods.

Question: Why are you now stressing the question of democracy?

Answer: At other times I have talked a lot about the relationship between
democracy and opposition against Japan. In order to secure peace and unity
in the country, peace will not be consolidated and there will be no true
unity if there is no democracy. It requires the participation of the people
of the whole country to fight Japan and if there is no democracy the civilians
cannot participate, and there will be no peace and unity. The war of resistance will become impossible without the participation of the people, and
even if the fight is carried on victory cannot be guaranteed, therefore, the
democratic system is a necessary condition for victory in the war of resistance against Japan and it is absolutely indispensable. Therefore, it is to
be victorious against Japanese that we stressed the question of democracy.

Question: How are you going to promote the realization of political democracy?

Answer: The realization of political democracy is dependent upon the democratic movement. Political democracy will not be realized without the broad
masses of people demanding for and giving impetus to the democratic movement;
All parties and factions and various circles throughout the country should
unite and struggle to win democratic rights. The military throughout the
country should support this democratic movement. We can achieve victory over
Japan and save China and avoid the danger of becoming a colony only by realizing political democracy and giving the people the freedom to take part in
politics. In practical implementation of the democratic movement we must
give our attention to the election, convention, and holding of the national
congress. We should pay attention to winning complete freedom of speech,
assembly, and association, as well as patriotism and saving the nation.
These
are the very minimum of democratic rights and if the entire nation turns in
this direction it will be possible to realize a unified democratic republic.

Question: What is the attitude of the Communist Party toward the current
national congress?

Answer: The current national congress is of national defense in nature, and,
at the same time, it forms a bridge to cross from dictatorship to democracy.
Therefore, the entire country should participate and the Communist Party
intends to take part. With regard to the election, convention, and tasks
of the national congress, the Nanking government has not been democratic
about it. If they do not make any revisions then the congress will have very
little effect, therefore, the entire country should join in requesting the
Nanking government to revise those illegal regulations. The election of the
national congress should have the participation of the people. Ample freedom
should be permitted for convening and opening this congress and its task
should not be limited to the discussion of the Constitution but must be expanded to discuss thoroughly and concretely the policy of fighting the Japanese
to either save the country or lose it. The opinions of the Communist Party
regarding the national congress have already been proclaimed to the country.
They have also been proposed to the Kuomintang and talks are now being held.
The objective is to have the congress accomplish the task of democratic
opposition against Japan.

Question: What are the views of the Communist Party on the question of freeing political prisoners?

Answer: Long ago, the Communist Party requested the release of political
prisoners throughout the country. This request is still being made and it is
incorporated into the talks held with the Kuomintang. If the Nanking government desires to express a thorough transformation of its policy there is no
reason why the political prisoners should not be freed. However, there has
been no concrete expression from the Kuomintang presently on this question.
Although they have verbally agreed to free political prisoners nothing of this
sort has actually taken place. Besides, incidents of continuing arrests of
patriotic prisoners have occurred. The trial of the leader of the Save the

Nation party in Suchow was a great disappointment for the people, and there
were also many within the Nanking government who were dissatisfied. If the
Nanking government sincerely desires to express its determination to make
a new beginning with the people it should immediately release the seven
leaders of national salvation and proclaimed them to be innocent.

Question: What suggestions do you have with regard to the question of preparing for the war of resistance?

Answer: We must immediately put up resistance regardless of when the Japanese
imperialists launch its offensive against us. We are prepared to deal with
incidents at any moment without regard to when or where the war erupts. But
if Japan does not launch a massive armed attack against China for the moment
and adopted a relatively mild policy during the period of preparation for
aggression, we should then utilize this moment to take positive action in
the work of preparing for the war of resistance. The "preparations" we have
set forth has a different context from the principle of preparation propounded
by the Kuomintang in the past. The Kuomintang's preparation theory is to
pacify domestically first and then drive out the foreign enemy. It was a
civil war with no defined boundaries, and an attrition on the forces to resist
Japan. Today's preparations in the making are for stopping the civil war,
consolidate domestic peace, realize political democracy, open the doors to
all freedoms of the people to save the nation, organize the masses, train
and arm them, and, at the same time, to accelerate the accomplishment of the
preparation work for resisting the enemy in such areas as the military,
political, finance, economy, culture and education. The war of resistance
in China seeks final victory. The sphere of this victory is not limited to
Shanhaikuan nor is it restricted to northeast China. It encompasses the
liberation of Korea and Taiwan, and even the success of the people's liberation revolution in Japan. This is our proposal for the preparations for the
war of resistance.

Question: What is your estimation of the conclusion of the Sino-Japanese war?

Answer: There are two possibilities for the conclusion of the war. First,
China is completely victorious over Japanese imperialism, the Chinese nation
gaining freedom and liberation, the success of the United Front within the
country, a close unity between the government and the people, victory for the
international peace front, support of the peace forces within the Japanese
nation, striving to attain the conditions that will bring about such a future.
But the most important and decisive condition for winning such a future is
the self-unity of the Chinese people and a determined war of resistance.
Without this condition the war of resistance is hopeless. Second, Japanese
imperialism achieves its objective of transforming China into a colony solely
its own. This danger also exists. This will happen only under such conditions as when the Chinese people are scattered and not united, offering no
resistance or fighting a war of resistance irresolutely and haphazardly, and
not uniting with their friends who are helping them. If the Chinese people
continue to sleep, the enemy will take away their house. The Communist Party
is struggling for the first one. Setting forth the proposal of a National
United Front is to achieve this first future. We call on all parties,

factions, and classes to resolutely oppose the attempt to make China a colony
and demand the freedom and liberty of China. We must struggle to the end
with the enemy in order to achieve victory in realizing such freedom and
liberty.

Question: What are your views on the recent closeness between Britain and
Japan?

Answer: The rulers of Japan and the conservative government of Britain between
them are planning to ameliorate their conflicts by carrying out negotiations
of compromise in order to achieve their objective of sacrificing China. The
Chinese people cannot allow them to carve up China as they please, and the
Chinese people must give their closest attention to this matter. Should the
Nanking government manifest vacillation and apathy in the task of protecting
national interests, the people and patriots within the Kuomintang must not
show them any mercy. At the same time we must realize that the compromise
between the two countries of Britain and Japan has not yet formed a good base.
It is true that there will always be the possibility of compromise between
Britain and Japan but there is a limitation as to where and when. The
British want to preserve the status quo, but its contents are easily mutable.
This can be seen from the step-by-step retreat made by the British after
18 September. Basically, the policy of Japan to solely occupy China and the
open door policy held by Britain and other imperialists are in opposition
to each other. But temporary and partial compromises are possible because
Britain can sell out the interests of China at any time in order to attain
the objective which will be to its interest. Regardless of the degree of
compromise reached between Britain and Japan, the Chinese people should not
for a single moment drop their guard regarding the life and death of China,
and in the movement to resist Japan we must not place too much trust in
Britain. By understanding clearly the basic nature of the British we will not
be taken in by them. China cannot be completely isolationist. Dr. Sun Yat-sen's
policy of union with Russia has practical political significance today.
The
relationship between China and Russia should advance a step closer and be
improved upon. The interests of the United States in the Far East is also
incompatible with the continental policy of Japan, therefore, the United
States should not be an idle bystander with regard to the question of China
and we should make a distinction between the British conservative party and
the broad masses of the British people. With regard to the British conservative
party's policy on Western Europe, it vacillates between the peace front and
the fascist front and it has already aroused great dissatisfaction among the
country's people. If they once again hobnob with the Japanese aggressors to
seek a compromise, they will not only arouse the opposition of the Chinese
people but it is doubtful whether they will have the sympathy of their own
people. The organizing of a world-wide peace front is proceeding in depth
and breadth, and it is also making preparations to stop all fascism. The
liberation movement of China is closely connected with the liberation movement
of the world and our future is absolutely bright.

Question: What hopes do you hold for the youths of the North?

Answer: The youths of the North are the vanguards in the struggle for national
liberation. The majority of them should unite and struggle to the end for
national democratic revolution. Many among them are troubled by the situation,
and a solution should be sought in a collective movement, and this movement
is a struggle to realize democracy and the war resistance against Japan. The
youths of the North should heighten their enthusiasm for achieving freedom of
the people's livelihood. Striving to achieve the patriotic freedom of democracy
forms one link in the core of the political life of today. For instance, if
some people only talk about resisting Japan and do not understand the realities
of the struggle for political democracy, then resistance against Japan will
not be effective. The reformism of the bourgeoisie is having an impact on
the youths of the North. Its attempt is to draw them from the front lines to
the rear areas, from an environment of excitement to peace and quiet, and
from positions of leadership to become followers, thereby extinguishing the
leadership roles played by the youths of the North in the national democratic
revolution, and the youths should struggle against such reformism and strictly
examine the influence and trends of these reformists and completely overcome
them.

"Collected Articles of Mao Tse-tung," Ta-ching Publishing House, December

Mao Tse-tung on the Sino-Japanese War (resistance against Japan, democracy,
and the youths of the North), Shensi People's Publishing House, October

"The People's Companion," Vol 1, 4th edition.