To Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, and Deng Yingchao[1]

(November 14, 1941)

Your telegram of the 14th has been received. We are appointed members of the People’s Political Council, and Chiang Kai-shek absolutely has no reason to compel our attendance. We absolutely cannot attend the People’s Political Council under Chiang Kai-shek’s coercion. Please have the following letter delivered immediately to the People’s Political Council. To Secretary-General Wang of the Secretariat of the National People’s Political Council: We, the undersigned, are unable to attend the current session of the People’s Political Council due to matters at hand and hereby request leave. We respectfully hope for your kind understanding. Mao Zedong, Chen Shaoyu, Lin Boqu, Wu Yuzhang, Qin Bangxian, Dong Biwu, Deng Yingchao, November 15. The phrase “due to matters at hand” must not be omitted, and please immediately prepare to counter the pressure Chiang Kai-shek will bring to bear upon us from all sides.

--- Notes

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, and Deng Yingchao.


[2] Zhou Enlai’s telegram of November 14 to Mao Zedong conveyed Chuikov’s opinion that the Communist Party members of the People’s Political Council should attend the session.