Directive on the Commemoration of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Birth of the Chinese Communist Party and the Fourth Anniversary of the War of Resistance[1]

(June 1941)

(1) This year, “July 1” marks the twentieth anniversary of the birth of the Chinese Communist Party, and “July 7” marks the fourth anniversary of China’s War of Resistance. All anti-Japanese base areas shall separately convene meetings, adopt various methods to hold commemorations, and publish special issues or special collections in various periodicals.

(2) Key points for propaganda: Outside the Party, it is necessary to carry out in-depth propaganda on the twenty-year history of the Chinese Communist Party as a history of heroic struggle for the cause of the liberation of the Chinese nation and the Chinese people. It most faithfully represents the interests of the Chinese nation and the Chinese people. Today, no matter how difficult the circumstances at home and abroad, it must uphold the policy of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, unite to the end, resist to the end, oppose splitting, and oppose capitulation. It is necessary to commend the military achievements of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army over four years of resistance, as well as the achievements in the construction of all anti-Japanese base areas, and to stress that our administrative program is the correct method for persevering in resistance behind enemy lines and is also the path by which the people of the whole nation can advance toward a bright victory.

Within the Party, it is necessary to make the entire Party clearly understand the major role of the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese revolution, that today it has already become the decisive factor in uniting the whole nation in the War of Resistance and striving for victory in the War of Resistance, and that its policies bear upon the success or failure of the nationwide War of Resistance and the destiny of the entire Chinese people. Therefore, every Party member must correctly understand how to apply the Party’s united front policy, must strengthen education in tactics, and study the Party’s rich experience accumulated over twenty years of revolutionary struggle.

[1] This directive was drafted by Mao Zedong.

(3) The Central Committee is preparing to issue a declaration and articles on “July 7,” which shall be transmitted by telegram as far as possible before “July 1” and published simultaneously in periodicals nationwide. Therefore, commemorative articles in various localities should focus on explaining issues related to local concrete tasks.