Conversation with the Nationalist Party Liaison Staff Officer Chen Hongmo and Others[1]

(September 1, 1941)

(1) If the Nationalist Party side releases Ye Ting, the Communist Party side will send Dong Biwu alone to attend the Political Consultative Council; otherwise, attendance will still not be possible. (2) The Communist Party will absolutely not overthrow the Nationalist Government and will absolutely not cross the existing borders. The Nationalist Party recognizes the Communist Party’s right to develop behind enemy lines, recognizes the existing defense areas, and recognizes the Border Region. As for the Nationalist and Communist armies behind enemy lines, both sides shall issue orders not to attack each other. (3) Restore the New Fourth Army, issue the back pay owed, and cease the arrests. (4) If He Yingqin ceases anti-communism, the Communist Party will cease opposing He, and mutual contacts can be resumed; however, if He again engages in anti-communism, the Communist Party will necessarily oppose He again.

[1] On September 1, 1941, Mao Zedong held a four-hour conversation with Nationalist Party liaison staff officers Chen Hongmo, Guo Yasheng, and Zhou Liwu. Chen and the others indicated that Chiang Kai-shek, He Yingqin, Zhang Zhizhong, and Wu Tiecheng all desired a turn for the better in Nationalist-Communist relations and requested that Zhu De go to Chongqing once. This is a part of Mao Zedong’s conversation with them.