To Peng Dehuai and Others[1]

(December 19, 1940)

After the signing of the Japan-Wang treaty, the grave danger of capitulation has for the time being been checked, and therefore we should not emphasize opposition to capitulation as strongly as we did in October and November; otherwise, not only will the Kuomintang react with antipathy, but the people will also fail to understand. As for Japan’s inducements to capitulation, they will not be abandoned, and it is inevitable that the pro-Japanese faction within the country may still seize opportunities to engage in activities. The Kuomintang’s opposition to the Communist Party will certainly continue, and its attacks on central China will not cease, but a large-scale civil war and a split between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party will not occur at present.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to Peng Dehuai, Zuo Quan, Ye Ting, Xiang Ying, He Long, Guan Xiangying, Nie Rongzhen, Peng Zhen, Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Liu Shaoqi, Chen Yi, and others concerning the situation following the signing of the Japan-Wang treaty.