Telegram to the Responsible Persons of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army on the Current Situation and the Issue of Unified Propaganda[1]

(May 25, 1941)

The Japanese forces have launched this small-scale war. Now, in Central and South China, they have withdrawn and returned to their original defensive positions, and there is also no major battle in southern Shanxi. This proves that their purpose was merely to intimidate Chiang. This offensive seems to have reached its concluding phase.

At present, although the danger of a new Munich in the West has been temporarily broken due to the Soviet Union's firm policy, the danger of a new Munich in the East is growing daily. The conspiracy of compromise among Japan, the United States, and China to oppose communism, oppose the Soviet Union, and oppose Germany is currently being discussed through an exchange of views between Tokyo and Washington. Over the past two weeks, the Kuomintang has not uttered a single word on the international situation, but has only propagated how the Communist Party is allegedly unwilling to coordinate in combat. From this, it can be seen that they are quietly observing the changes in the situation.

In this autumn of turbulent and shifting current affairs, our Party's propaganda must be unified under the central propaganda policy. Therefore, all our military leading cadres must strictly comply with the Central Committee's directive of February 1st[2] and must not casually express opinions.

--- Notes

[1] This is the main content of the telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Wang Jiaxiang, and Ye Jianying to the responsible persons of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army on the current situation and the issue of unified propaganda.


[2] This refers to the regulations issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on February 1, 1941, concerning the issuance of nationwide circular telegrams, manifestos, and internal directives. The content is as follows: 1. Without instructions from the Central Committee, the Military Commission, and the General Political Department, no commanders or political departments shall issue any circular telegrams, manifestos, or general internal directives of nationwide significance; 2. Before obtaining the consent of the Central Committee and the Military Commission, higher-level organs in various localities and armies must not order their subordinate units to issue circular telegrams, manifestos, or general internal directives of nationwide significance; 3. Henceforth, any circular telegrams, manifestos, or internal directives of nationwide significance to be issued by commanders or central bureaus must first obtain the consent of the Central Committee and the Military Commission.