Directive on the Issue of Conflicts Between New and Old Forces in Shanxi[1]

(August 22, 1938)

Peng, He, Xiao, Guan, Gan, and Zhao, Luo, Cheng, Yang:

Our basic policy is to support the development of new forces. However, when our Party, our army, and the War Mobilization Committees make public statements, they should not show partiality to either side. They should call upon all factions, new and old, to unite, and strive to ensure that when the old faction opposes the new faction, it does not oppose our Party and our army, and can cooperate with us in certain areas to resist Japan, mobilize and organize the masses, and reform the troops, etc.

Mao, Luo, Wang, Hu

August 22

[1] This is a directive telegram from Mao Zedong and Luo Fu (Zhang Wentian), Wang Jiaxiang, and Hu Fu (Liu Shaoqi) to Peng Dehuai, He Long, Xiao Ke, Guan Xiangying, and Gan Siqi, as well as Zhao Lin, Luo Guibo, Cheng Zihua, and Yang Shangkun.