THE PEOPLE OF CHINA AND GREAT BRITAIN ARE ON THE SAME FRONT
1 June 1939
[Text] As the Chinese people's unwavering war of resistance against Japan
is coming to the end of its second year, the British Aid to China Committee
holds "China Week" in various places in England to demonstrate its support
to our war effort. On behalf of Comrade Chu Teh, the officers and men of
the 8th Route Army, and the wounded soldiers in field hospitals and hospitals
in the rear, I wish to say how excited and how encouraged we feel by this
kind of sympathy and concern. We respectfully thank and enthusiastically
salute the British people who stand with us together on the international
anti-aggression front.

China's 2-year war of resistance has shown the power of democratic forces.
These 2 years of war have pointed out that even an industrially backward
country which has suffered all kinds of oppression and humiliation in her
national life can resist the most barbarous and brutal fascist attack with
full confidence of victory. It also proves that China's war of resistance
cannot be separated from the world-wide anti-fascist force. In fact, our
attack against the aggressors has put our country in the foremost position
in the main anti-fascist front of the international struggle for the defense
of democracy and civilization in the world.

As soon as the war started, we saw the British people help our war effort
with material support, donate medical supplies, send ambulance units to China,
and express their sympathy on many occasions. All these serve to explain
that although Great Britain is geographically far away from China, the
British people are not indifferent to China's war of resistance. However,
because of our position in the anti-aggression struggle in the entire world,
we have the right to demand more assistance than before.

First, we demand that you strictly watch the attitude of your government,
and force your government to take resolute action in ending British shipment
of military supplies to Japan. Several weeks ago, the British embassy and
consulate in Chungking were damaged during an indiscriminate Japanese air
raid on China's wartime capital. To this humiliation the British government

responded with the weakest diplomatic gesture--a protest on a piece of paper.
It is this kind of attitude that encourages Japan to wipe out British interest
wherever she can. The most effective way for the British people to restrain
the bandits in the Far East and at the same time help China is to put pressure
on their government for immediate censure against Japan.

During the last 2 years, Japan's accomplices, Fascist Germany and Italy, collaborated in destroying world peace, tearing up international treaties, and starting
a bloody and cruel war. Their activities have become a direct threat to the
security of Great Britain. Here is another reason for the British people to
compel their government to support China's war of resistance, and for the
British people themselves to take steps complementary to China's contribution
to the anti-aggression front. To oppose fascism does not call for our engagement in any particular war. The threat is universal. Therefore, we must
fight it on a world-wide basis.

For example,
the Japanese have recently stepped up their anti-British
propaganda in their occupied areas. Therefore, for their own defense, it is
necessary for the British people to help China, help that country which is
at war with the enemy in the Far East.

In view of the above, may we suggest that you adopt concrete and effective
measures to strengthen British policy so as to bring your action consistent
with the desire of the British government and British people to frustrate
the Japanese aggressors.

For our national independence and freedom and for the peace and freedom of
mankind, we have resolutely struggled for 2 years. During these 2 years,
the Japanese militarists utilized those shameless Wang Ching-wei-like defeatists in an attempt to sabotage our Anti-Japanese National United Front
and, thereby, to sabotage our war of resistance.

However, our friends can feel reassured. During the last 2 years, the unity
among the Chinese people has matured, and our determination to win the final
victory has greatly strengthened. The Chinese Communist Party and the
Kuomintang are more determined than ever to carry out their joint resolution
--support Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as their leader in the war of resistance.
In the past, the Wang Ching-wei-like defeatists could still hide themselves
in unoccupied areas in an attempt to instigate surrender. Now, they cannot
cover up their true intentions any longer. They have been exposed and
chased away.

Geographically, England and China are far apart, but the common desire of
the two peoples to defeat Fascist aggressors has brought them together.
us join hands to defeat the common enemy of mankind.

Let the peoples of China and Great Britain be united!

° "The Masses," (Chungking) Vol 3, No 10, NEW CHINA DAILY, 23 July 1939

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