Telegram from Political Councilors Mao and
Chen Asking for Leave Because of
Other Business
(February 12, 1939)

Comrades Mao Zedong and Chen Shaoyu are unable to attend the Third Session of the
People's Political Council because of other business, and have sent a telegram to Chongqing
asking for leave. The full text of the telegram, which we have obtained, reads as follows:

To the Secretariat of the People's Political Council in Chongqing, and for transmission to Chairman Chiang of the Council for his perusal:
Because of other business, we are unable to attend the present session of the
Political Council. We are sending this telegram to ask for leave.

Mao Zedong Chen Shaoyu¹

Our source for this telegram is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 6, p. 23, where it is reproduced
from the text published in Xin Zhonghua bao on February 13, 1939.
1. Although he had been criticized for his "rightist line" at the Sixth Plenum in September 1938, Chen Shaoyu (better known as Wang Ming) was nonetheless at this time a member of the Secretariat, and the head of the Party's United Front Department.