Letter Regarding Industrial Cooperatives
(Yan'an, September 25, 1939)

Bishop Hall, Chairman
Chen Han-seng, Secretary,
International Committee,
The Chinese Industrial Cooperatives
Hong Kong

Gentlemen:

I am in favor of the establishment of many small industries in China by means of
cooperatives. Your great devotion to such a cause, and the splendid effort you have
made to help our War of Resistance, are deeply appreciated.
If it is possible to build this kind of (cooperative) industries in the guerrilla
districts of North China, and in the adjacent war regions in the northwest, the help
would be greatly appreciated and warmly welcomed by the Eighth Route Army
and my humble self.
I understand that such a plan is in fact already contemplated. It is very much
hoped that it can be realized, for its contribution to our struggle would be incalculably great.
I would be most grateful if you would convey this thought to your committees
abroad, and to our countrymen overseas. Here I wish especially to thank our fellow-countrymen in the Philippines, and the (Industrial Cooperatives) Promotion Committee there, for they have made great efforts to support our fatherland and the
industrial cooperative movement.
In one word, if we struggle hard, and if China and her foreign friends cooperate
together, there can be no doubt of our final victory over the Japanese!
With national anti-Japanese greetings.

Mao Zedong

72. Our source is a carbon copy of the typewritten English text, contained in the Edgar
Snow Papers. A note at the top of the page reads: "Translation of an original letter in Chinese written by Mao Tse-tung." The Chinese text does not appear to be available, but according to other documents in the Snow Papers, this version was reviewed by Mao's representative and can therefore be regarded as accurate.
--- Notes

Mao wrote this letter at the request of Edgar Snow, Nym Wales (Helen Foster Snow), and
others involved in the movement to create cooperative industrial enterprises. For Snow's
account of his dealings with Mao on this matter see Random Notes on Red China, pp. 71-