Mao Zedong replied by telegram to the Shandong Provisional Consultative Conference, offering words of encouragement and consolation.
# Date: 1943-07
# Source: en:auto-trans
# Translated from: zh/1943/1943-07_mao_ze_dong_tong_zhi_fu_dian_shan_dong_lin_can_hui_wei_mian.txt

() Gentlemen of the Shandong Provincial Provisional Consultative Assembly: I have carefully read your telegram received in my sleep. Your assembly has steadfastly held out behind enemy lines, enduring arduous struggles with indomitable spirit, upholding justice for our nation and setting an exemplary standard for the entire country. All patriots cannot but admire you. At a time when certain elements within China’s resistance camp—appeasers, defeatists, and surrenderists—are seeking to compromise with the enemy and stir up civil war, thereby plunging the nation into grave peril, I earnestly hope that your assembly and all patriotic soldiers and civilians behind enemy lines will stand united, redouble their efforts, and continue to fight for the cause of persevering in the War of Resistance, promoting unity and progress, and opposing surrender, division, and retrogression. Patriots throughout the country are wholeheartedly ready to assist you.

At present, the international situation is gravely adverse to the fascist bandits of Germany, Italy, and Japan, as well as to China’s traitorous and treacherously inclined elements and to the shameless, reactionary surrender faction. The iron fist of the Soviet Red Army is about to snap the spine of the Hitlerian beast. The patriotic armed forces and people of Britain and the United States are likewise striving to deliver the final blow against fascism. The great goal of the Chinese people—to overthrow Japanese imperialism and achieve national freedom and liberation—is drawing ever nearer.  Mao Zedong