Speech at a Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[1]

(March 5, 1941)

In the past, our "Jia Telegram" and the withdrawal of troops, on the one hand, won the sympathy of the middle factions, and on the other hand, made the Kuomintang seize on our fear of a rupture to step up its attacks on us. When we put forward the Twelve Demands to the Political Consultative Council, Chiang showed panic. As we continued to maintain a firm and强硬 stance, Chiang mobilized all the minor parties to demand that we attend the Political Consultative Council. Consequently, our Party’s council members Dong Biwu and Deng Yingchao put forward a new set of Twelve Measures. This time, our Party’s three fighters—Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, and Deng Yingchao—stood firm on the Party’s position, which is of great significance. I believe our Party’s firm stance this time was correct; it dealt a resolute blow to the Kuomintang and will exert an enormous influence on all sides. Our lone struggle is of tremendous significance. Our Party’s foreign policy does not oppose Britain and the United States aiding China, but it opposes joining the Anglo-American bloc. We do not oppose participating in the Sino-Burmese joint defense; under the aim of opposing Japan, we approve of the Sino-Burmese joint defense, exploiting the contradictions among the imperialists. Judging from the general trend now, the Kuomintang’s anti-communist policy will not cease, but under Japan’s southward advance policy, the anti-communist upsurge will subside.

[1] Part One is an excerpt from Mao Zedong’s speech on the current situation at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; Part Two is an excerpt from his speech during discussions on the financial and economic issues in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region.

The general financial policy is primarily a policy of development, and the means is paper currency. The previous policy of retrenchment should be transformed, and new policies should be immediately implemented in accordance with the new general policy. We must resolve to invest immediately in production undertakings, primarily in salt production. An additional six million yuan in paper currency is to be issued, because it is especially necessary now and must be issued. Two million is to be invested in salt production, two million to purchase grain, one million to cover the expenses of the Central Committee and the Border Region, and one million for bank turnover. All kinds of monopoly practices must be immediately changed; private interests must not be allowed to harm others, and the government must carry out corrections. A policy of free trade must be implemented; the past policy of using public enterprises to swallow up private enterprises was incorrect. There is no need to fear the development of capitalism in the Border Region. In the past, the slogan of opposing the development of capitalism was raised within the Party, but later it was replaced by the slogan of opposing corruption and degeneration.