To Zhou Enlai and Others[1]

(October 20, 1941)

The Tojo Cabinet is a military cabinet directly preparing for war. It is directly preparing for war, but it is not yet certain that it will immediately resort to arms. Its war orientation carries the danger of a northward advance, but the possibility of a southward advance has not been lost. The Kuomintang is currently affirming a northward advance; we need not align ourselves with it. Whether Japan advances northward or southward, its aggression against China will by no means slacken—this point we should stress with emphasis. Regarding the German-Soviet war, although the Moscow front has not yet escaped the danger of aggression, the Soviet Union is still capable of holding out. Germany’s situation is not particularly good. The cooperation of the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and China will certainly be able to defeat fascism. At a time when pessimism is growing both inside and outside the Party, we should uphold the correct stand and oppose such pessimism.

[1] This is the main content of Mao Zedong’s telegram to Zhou Enlai and for the information of Liao Chengzhi, opposing pessimism regarding the current situation.