First question: What is the significance and role of the present-day Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region in China?
Please tell us, as we very much need to understand this.

Answer: Only by understanding the nature of the Border Region can one understand its significance and role in China.

What kind of place is the Border Region in nature?
To sum it up in one sentence, it is a democratic anti-Japanese base area.

First, in terms of the populace, they all have their own organizations.
As long as they adhere to the principle of resisting Japan, the people of the Border Region enjoy freedom of speech, publication, assembly, and association—whether they are workers, peasants, merchants, students, intellectuals, women, children, religious groups, or associations of professionals.
The Communist Party and the Border Region government actively support and assist them, enabling them to develop more widely.
Here, only the activities of traitors are restricted; no freedom whatsoever is granted to traitors.

Second, the Border Region has become an area directly involved in the war of resistance. A portion of the Eighth Route Army remains here, along with local armed forces.
Within these troops, the relationship between officers and soldiers, and their external relationship with the people, also embody a democratic spirit, allowing officers and soldiers to integrate as one, and the military and civilians to integrate as one, thereby demonstrating an invincible strength in the War of Resistance Against Japan.

Third, education in the Border Region is likewise anti-Japanese and democratic. You can see this spirit from the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University and the Northern Shaanxi Public School.

Fourth, the same applies to the economic sphere, which is guided by the principle of benefiting the war effort and managed with a democratic spirit.
For example, the fairly well-developed cooperatives here, and the peasants who have received land engaging in agriculture, are all conducted according to this spirit, improving the people's livelihood while simultaneously benefiting the anti-Japanese cause.
There are taxes here, but no exorbitant levies or miscellaneous taxes; a unified progressive tax is implemented, consistent with the aforementioned principle.

Fifth, and most importantly, all levels of government in the Border Region are elected by popular vote.
This proves one point: the claim by some that "workers and peasants with backward knowledge cannot implement an electoral system" does not accord with the facts.
The results of implementing popular elections here are not bad at all, as anyone with eyes can see.
When the people elect those they favor to handle government affairs, the results are quite good. This is far better than the system of appointing officials, and it is particularly active and effective in mobilizing the people's strength to participate in the War of Resistance.
What differs from the past Soviets is the expansion of the scope of election and being elected—that is, regardless of whether one is a worker, peasant, woman, intellectual, student, merchant, or property owner, as long as one does not oppose resistance against Japan and has reached the age of eighteen, one has the right to elect and be elected.

All the aspects described above, which combine the War of Resistance Against Japan with the democratic system, can yield great results.
Under this system, people of any profession and engaged in any activity can develop their talents; those with any ability can demonstrate it.
This is the nature of the Border Region, the characteristics of the Border Region.
Once you understand this nature and these characteristics, you can understand its significance and role in the whole country.

The whole country should also adopt this system, combining the War of Resistance Against Japan with the democratic system, and striving for victory in the War of Resistance through the universal implementation of the democratic system.
If the people nationwide have full freedom of speech, publication, assembly, and association; if officers and soldiers in the national army integrate as one, and the military and civilians also integrate as one; if national education is carried out with a democratic spirit; if national economic construction mobilizes the people's strength and is linked to improving the people's livelihood; if all levels of government nationwide implement an electoral system and have representative bodies at all levels—and all this is done to secure victory in the War of Resistance—then the defeat of Japan will be within sight.
The democratic system is something historically formed in foreign countries, but China has not yet implemented it.
The role of the Border Region is to set an example for the people of the whole country, so that they understand that this system is most beneficial to resisting Japan and saving the nation, and is the only correct path for resisting Japan and saving the nation. This is the significance and role of the Border Region in the whole country.
For this system to be adopted nationwide, it must first be thoroughly understood by the people of the whole country and deemed feasible, and only then can it be implemented. Therefore, we welcome people from all parties and factions, as well as those with no party affiliation, to come and see for themselves.
Quite a few people have come to see, especially young students. Except for a small number who say this system is not good, the majority say it is good. This is something to be gratified about.
The Border Region is a part of China, under the leadership of the central government, and is the same as other parts of China, but with one difference: this is an area where the democratic system has been implemented. This is the characteristic of the Border Region.
We hope this characteristic will spread throughout China.

Currently, some people hold two incorrect views about the Border Region: one says that nothing in the Border Region is good—a few die-hard elements say this, and such a claim clearly does not accord with the facts.
The other says it is like a sacred paradise, with no shortcomings at all. This claim is also excessive.
The correct way to put it should be this: the democratic system and the anti-Japanese spirit here are very good and worthy of emulation and reference by the people of the whole country.
However, the work here is still constrained by certain conditions—material difficulties, for example, are one instance—and much work still requires continued effort to become better. It is not that everything is so perfect that no further progress is needed.
Therefore, we welcome outside criticism, which spurs the efforts of the personnel working here. This must also be pointed out.
Since you have kindly come to Yan'an on a visit, I welcome your criticism and your pointing out the shortcomings here, so that they may be corrected and made more beneficial to the great cause of resisting Japan and saving the nation.

Second question: What is the current role of the Chinese Communist Party in the whole of China?
Answer: This question is very simple.
Persisting in the War of Resistance, persisting in the united front, and persisting in a protracted war—these are the basic propositions of the Chinese Communist Party at present, and herein lies its work and role throughout the country.
What does persisting in the War of Resistance mean?
Whether to compromise or to persist in the War of Resistance—this is an existing problem.
We advocate fighting the war to the end and oppose any compromise.
We are willing, together with the Kuomintang, other parties and factions, and the people of the whole country, to persist in the War of Resistance, never wavering, until we recover our lost territories and reach the Yalu River.
What does persisting in the united front mean?
It means the whole country uniting to the very end.
Only by persisting in national unity can we persist in the War of Resistance.
Although there is now national unity, we must become even more united. It is not enough to unite just a few parties and factions; we must also unite the people of the whole country.
Only when people from all circles across the country are united within certain organizations and have all aroused their enthusiasm for the War of Resistance can the united front be considered consolidated and expanded.
What does persisting in a protracted war mean?
There are now two kinds of people in China: one kind says, "China will perish and cannot fight a protracted war"; the other kind says, "China can quickly drive out Japanese imperialism, so there is no need for a protracted war."
We believe both views are incorrect.
First, China will absolutely not perish.
The reason is that although Japan is strong, it has inherent deficiencies and many internal and external contradictions; although China is weak, it is a large country and has many favorable conditions both at home and abroad.
Therefore, although China has lost many places during a certain period of the war, it can still persist in the war and achieve final victory.
But it is also difficult to defeat Japan quickly, because although there are possible conditions for winning victory, they cannot all be realized quickly. Whether it is China's progress, Japan's internal collapse, or international assistance, none can achieve their goals without a considerably long time.
Therefore, we should prepare for a long-term war and cannot hope for immediate victory.
Thus, the current policy should be: first, persist in the War of Resistance; second, persist in the anti-Japanese united front; third, persist in a protracted war.
What does the Chinese Communist Party do throughout the country?
It does precisely these things.
The Chinese Communist Party is willing to unite closely with all parties and factions and the people of the whole country, and is determined to carry this policy through to the end. This is the role of the Chinese Communist Party in the whole country.

Third question: Are there any conditions in China that could shorten the duration of this protracted war?
Answer: To shorten the duration of the war, three conditions must be strengthened.
The first condition is the further consolidation and expansion of China's united front. This is fundamental.
Under the policy of the united front, all work must be greatly developed and advanced. For every degree that this work is developed and advanced, the duration of the war can be shortened by one degree.
The second condition is the assistance of the Japanese people at home.
This assistance has already begun. For example, their soldiers are unwilling to fight—some commit suicide, some surrender, and some distribute anti-war leaflets. Anti-war sentiment among the Japanese people is also developing.
If the soldiers and people of Japan become more awakened by one degree, the duration of the war can also be shortened by one degree.
Another condition is the assistance of countries around the world.
We need the help of the world's students, the help of the world's people, and also the help of various governments.
If this assistance becomes greater and faster, then our war will also be shortened.
These three conditions are interrelated. If China accelerates its progress and unity, it can accelerate the development of the forces aiding us within Japan, and also accelerate the development of the forces aiding us from countries around the world.
If the forces aiding us from Japan and the world accelerate their development, it can also accelerate the development and progress of the anti-Japanese forces within our country.
China's dealing a greater blow to Japanese imperialism is also a form of help to the Japanese people, and will make the Japanese people's liberation struggle develop faster.
The same applies to the world: China's War of Resistance is simultaneously helping the people of the world oppose the common enemy.
Therefore, the various anti-fascist forces in China, Japan, and the world influence and help one another.
World peace cannot be divided; the world is a single whole. This is a characteristic of current world politics.
For every degree that these three conditions are fulfilled, the duration of the war can be shortened by one degree.
This is the task of the Chinese Communist Party, all anti-Japanese parties and factions, and the entire people, and it is also the task of all advanced political parties and the entire people in Japan and the world.
Our war is a protracted war, but we should strive with all our might to secure the conditions for shortening its duration as much as possible. Without these conditions, shortening the duration is merely an illusion.

Fourth question: After the final victory in the War of Resistance is won, what will be the main task of the Chinese Communist Party?
Answer: After victory in the War of Resistance, the main task of the Communist Party, in a word, is to establish a free and equal democratic country.
In this country, there will be an independent democratic government, a parliament representing the people, and a constitution suited to the people's demands.
In this country, all nationalities will be equal, and relations of union will be established on the principle of equality.
In this country, the economy will develop upward; agriculture, industry, and commerce will all greatly develop, and will be operated through cooperation between the state and the people. An eight-hour working day will be instituted, peasants should have land, a unified progressive tax will be implemented, peaceful trade will be conducted with foreign countries, and mutually beneficial agreements will be concluded.
In this country, the people will have complete freedom of speech, publication, assembly, association, and belief; the talents of all outstanding individuals will be able to develop; science and general culture will be elevated; and there will be no illiteracy in the whole country.
In this country, the army will not stand in opposition to the people but will be integrated with them.
Such a country is not yet a socialist country, and such a government is not a Soviet government; it is a country and government that implements a thorough democratic system without undermining the principle of private property.
This is China's modern state, and China very much needs such a state.
With such a state, China will leave behind its semi-colonial and semi-feudal status and become a free and equal country, leaving the old China behind and becoming a new China.
The Communist Party is willing to unite with all parties and factions and all people across the country, and everyone should strive to establish such a country.
Such a country is what the people of the whole country have hoped for and fought for over decades, and it is also what Mr. Sun Yat-sen hoped for and fought for.
The effort to establish such a state did not begin only on the day after Japan was driven back across the Yalu River; all the various tasks carried out during the War of Resistance are connected with the building of such a state.

However, many important tasks can only be completed after victory in the War of Resistance, such as fundamental economic construction.

During the War of Resistance, the prerequisite for establishing such a state must be prepared, the primary one being to drive out Japanese imperialism.

This task belongs not only to the Communist Party but should also belong to the Kuomintang and other revolutionary parties, and at the same time to the entire Chinese people.

This is a historical mission of China.

Fifth question: What do you consider to be the main tasks of Chinese students and youth during the War of Resistance? What are the main tasks of the world’s students and youth in the movement to aid China?

Answer: The tasks of Chinese youth can be divided into general and specific ones. The general tasks, as mentioned earlier, are to persist in the War of Resistance, uphold the united front, persevere in a protracted war, expel Japanese imperialism, and establish a free and equal democratic republic. This is the common task of the Chinese people, regardless of age or profession, with no distinctions. What distinguishes them are their specific tasks. What are the specific tasks of Chinese youth? They are to strive for their own special interests, such as improving education and learning, having the right to participate in national salvation movements during their studies, the right to organize student and youth groups and national salvation organizations, the right to vote and stand for election for those aged eighteen and above, the right to free education for impoverished students, and the large-scale mobilization of youth to the front lines, among others.

As for the main tasks of the world’s youth in aiding China’s War of Resistance, I believe, first, through the World Students’ Association, to make the majority of the world’s youth and students understand the necessity of jointly opposing Japan and helping China, and to make them realize that this work is related to their own interests, because peace is indivisible, and fascist world aggression is the enemy of world peace. Second, students serve as a bridge connecting the people; through students, the peoples of various nations can understand the necessity of opposing Japan and helping China, as well as the connection between this work and their own interests. As for specific methods of assistance, they include, for example, conducting propaganda through spoken and written words, urging the people and governments to provide us with material aid, refraining from buying Japanese goods or selling goods to Japan, and even organizing international anti-Japanese volunteer forces, ready to come to China to join the war at an appropriate time.

You represent the vast international student community in coming to China for an inspection and have shown us great sympathy. The entire Chinese people are grateful to you. On behalf of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people, I salute you! I hope that upon your return, you will convey the truth of China’s great War of Resistance Against Japan to the world’s students and people. We will forever unite with you, fighting for China’s freedom and equality, and for the world’s lasting peace and lasting happiness!

Printed based on the July 15, 1938, issue of *Liberation*, No. 45.

Note
〔1〕 This is Mao Zedong’s conversation in Yan’an with the World Students’ Association delegation, including James Klugmann, Bernard Yard, Molly Yard, and others.