To Zhou Enlai[1]

(December 5, 1940)

The attitude towards Zhang Guotao is a matter of principle and must be raised with the other side in a stern and serious manner. If the other side orders Zhang Guotao to attend, it would indicate that the other side wishes to replace cooperation with our Party with cooperation with Zhang Guotao, and we would then be unable to participate in the Political Consultative Council. On this point, absolutely no concession can be made. If the other side disregards the protest, we are determined to genuinely not attend; if the other side still wishes to preserve the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation, it can naturally order Zhang Guotao to voluntarily withdraw as a political council member.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to Zhou Enlai.