Zhu [De] and Peng [Dehuai], Yang [Shangkun], Liu [Bocheng] and Deng
[Xiaoping], and for the information of Zhu [Rui] and Xu [Xiangqian], Chen [Guang]
and Luo [Ronghuan]:
Any forces within the borders of Hebei and Shanxi, no matter if they are Central
forces, Shanxi and Suiyuan forces, or Shi Yousan's forces,¹ if they attack the regions of the Eighth Route Army, we should resolutely resist and thoroughly eliminate them, abiding by the principle of self-defense when it is reasonable and
beneficial to do so. We should call on all our Eighth Route Army forces and all the
people of the two provinces to deal a firm blow at all those who are attacking from
the rear of the front on resisting Japan. We should publicly and comprehensively
propagate the following: "Those who are attacking from the rear of the resisting
Japan front are Chinese traitors"; "Down with the Chinese traitors who are attacking the Eighth Route Army"; "Down with the Chinese traitors who are attacking
the dare-to-die contingent"; and "Down with the Chinese traitors who are sabotaging the resisting Japan base areas." Only by creating a trend of all forces and all the
people opposing Chinese traitors, opposing the attacks, and dealing vigorous blows
at the attackers, will the ploys of those schemers and adventurers be frustrated,
will they be divided from within, will we prevent those wavering forces from
daring to join the attacks, and will we effectively coordinate with the united front
work, which is being energetically carried out within the armed forces. This policy
also applies to Shandong. It is hoped that Shandong will firmly follow suit.

Central Secretariat

This telegram was drafted by Mao for the Secretariat of the Central Committee. Our source
is *Mao Zedong junshi wenji*, Vol. 2, pp. 513-14, where it is reproduced from Mao's original
manuscript, conserved in the Central Archives.
1. Shi Yousan (1891-1940), *zi* Hanzhang, was a native of Jilin Province. In the 1920s
and 1930s he served under Feng Yuxiang, Chiang Kaishek, Zhang Xueliang, and others. In
June 1940, he concluded an "Anti-Communist Agreement" with the Japanese Army; as a
result, he was executed for treason in December 1940.