Reply to Zhou Enlai’s Telegram[1]

(February 14, 1941)

1. Agree to present the Twelve Demands in the name of our Party’s seven political counselors to the Political Council for discussion, with a view to restoring Kuomintang-Communist unity, reorganizing the anti-Japanese battle array, and persevering in the war of resistance against the enemy. Otherwise, we cannot attend the Political Council. 2. Agree to establish a committee of all parties and groups outside the Political Council to discuss political issues.[2]

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

[2] On February 10 in Chongqing, at the Yu Huang Guan, Zhou Enlai consulted with political counselors Huang Yanpei, Zhou Shiguan, Shen Junru, Zou Taofen, Zhang Bojun, Zhang Shenfu, Zuo Shunsheng, and Zhang Junmai regarding their attitude toward the Kuomintang Political Council. Afterward, Zhou Enlai telegraphed Mao Zedong about the discussions, advocating acceptance of their suggestion: that the seven Communist political counselors submit the Twelve Measures proposed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for resolving the Southern Anhui Incident to the Political Council for discussion, making this the condition for attending the Political Council, and otherwise not attending; and that a committee of all parties and groups be established outside the Political Council to discuss Kuomintang-Communist relations and democratic issues, at which the “Twelve Demands” would also be raised for discussion.