(September 29, 1939)

(Written specially for this newspaper) After a dinner of welcome given by Comrade Mao
Zedong in their honor and accompanied personally by him, the group of guests-"friends
from China and from abroad," to quote Comrade Mao Zedong-entered the Central Auditorium crowded with people and, amid warm applause, attended the evening welcome party
sponsored by various circles of Yan'an. In the midst of boisterous applause, Comrade
Mao Zedong began his address of welcome:

We are here holding this grand evening party to welcome many friends and guests
from this country and from abroad. First of all, we welcome General He Zhuguo,¹
who has been valiantly fighting in the forefront of the War of Resistance for more
than two years, where he has worked hard and done valuable service. At present
General He Zhuguo is leading his forces to [X][X][X] from [X][X] via our border
region. So we are holding this gathering to welcome him very warmly, as well as
many other comrades of the [X] Cavalry Army.²
In addition, we welcome Mr. Wei³ and Mr. Cai, both senior advisers from the
headquarters of the Second Military District. The Eighth Route Army operates in
the Second Military District, under the orders of Commander Yan.⁴ We welcome
the visit of the comrades from the Second Military District.

This speech was first published in Xin Zhonghua bao, September 29, 1939. We have translated it from Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 6, pp. 125-26, where it is reproduced from that
source.
1. He Zhuguo (1897-1985), a native of Guangxi Province, was a graduate of the Baoding
Military Academy, who had also studied cavalry tactics in Japan. In the aftermath of the
1936 Xi'an Incident, he had supported Zhang Xueliang. In August 1938, he had been appointed commander of the Second Cavalry Army, and in this capacity he had participated in
the War of Resistance in the northeast.
2. Presumably the reference is to He's Second Cavalry Army.
3. The reference may be to Wei Wei, a native of Henan and a graduate of the Huangpu
Military Academy, who in 1938 had been appointed deputy commander of the Ninety-third
Army in the Second Military District.
4. The reference is to Yan Xishan (1883-1960), who had played a major role in his
native province of Shanxi since the late 1920s. In 1937 he had been appointed commanderin-chief of the Second War area by Chiang Kaishek.


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We also welcome guests from foreign countries. They fall into three categories. One is the American correspondent Mr. Snow, whose name is well known to
us all. He was the very first one to visit the soviet area in northern Shaanxi in 1936.
This is his second visit, and we warmly welcome him. America is a great nation.
The masses of its people are opposed to imperialism and sympathetic to the liberation of the oppressed nations. Mr. Snow stands on the side of the broad masses of
the people. He is a good friend of the Communist Party. It is hoped that, with the
efforts of Mr. Snow, the two great nations of China and the United States will join
hands, so as to help the Chinese people to overthrow Japanese imperialism.
Also at today's evening party are the comrades of the Indian Medical Team.
India is a great nation with a population of 320 million. Britain tried to force India
into the war, but the Indian National Congress delivered a declaration, on behalf of
the whole people, of their refusal to fight and their opposition to the imperialist
war.
The leader of the Indian National Congress is none other than Mr. Nehru, who
visited Chongqing not long ago. Mr. Nehru has sent the Indian Medical Team to
assist China. The two great nations of China and India have united to defeat Japanese imperialism.
At this evening party, we would like to give an even greater welcome to the
friends from the Soviet Union. The help from the Soviet Union in our War of
Resistance will enable China to defeat the Japanese imperialists and win the final
victory.
The fact that this evening we are welcoming the comrades who have been doing hard and valuable work in the War of Resistance is a manifestation of the unity
of all China. We welcome our international friends, and we want all the great
nations that are helping us-the American people, the oppressed people of India,
and the Soviet Union-to unite. With our internal unity, plus international unity,
Japanese imperialism will definitely be overthrown.

Telegram in Reply to Jiang Dingwen, Chairman
of the Shaanxi Provincial Government

(September 29, 1939)

Mr. Jiang Mingsan,¹ chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Government:

Your telegram has been respectfully received and read. When northern Shaanxi is
suffering a drought, the Central Government has appropriated funds and southern
Shaanxi has helped with grain. The whole area is covered with benevolence, and
all the people are filled with jubilation. The border region has also suffered from
the drought, though not so seriously as the Suiyuan and Yulin areas. So we also
made a small contribution, just as an expression of good will from a neighbor. You
put us to shame when you expressed your gratitude, and we really do not deserve
it. This telegram is specially sent in reply, and to wish you good health.

Your admiring younger brother,

Mao Zedong

This telegram was first published in Xin Zhonghua bao, October 6, 1939. Our source is
Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 6, p. 127, which reproduces that text.
1. Regarding Jiang Dingwen, see note 4 to Mao's interview of September 24, 1939,
with Edgar Snow.