On the Policy Toward the Diehards in Northern Jiangsu[1]

(July 20, 1940)

1. Strive to ease the conflict with Li Pinxian; there is a strong possibility that Han Deqin’s troops will attack southward. Our Central China forces should reinforce Chen Yi, suppress Han’s offensive, and develop northern Jiangsu.

2. The land and property of the ringleaders among the traitors and the chieftains of the reactionaries who have taken part in the insurrection may be confiscated, but this must be done with extreme caution. We must not confiscate the land and property of all traitors, all reactionaries, and all diehards, turning this into a fairly widespread movement for the confiscation and distribution of land.

3. Do our utmost to expand united front work, draw in all the vacillating elements, and strike only at that section which is directly attacking us at present, so as temporarily to neutralize the remaining sections.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to the Central Plains Bureau and Chen Yi on the policy toward the diehards in northern Jiangsu.