A Note on the Telegram Drafted by Zhou Enlai in Reply to Dong Biwu and Lin Boqu[1]

(August 17, 1944)

Should discuss with Zhang and Zuo[2] the coalition government of all parties. The Political Consultative Council may agree to increase its members, adopting a positive attitude, but this is of secondary importance. The above is for Zhou to consider and draft a reply.

A congress of party and group representatives should first be convened to reorganize the government; only then is it possible to convene a democratically elected National Assembly; otherwise, even if convened, it would be a sham. If we make this proposal, Chiang will certainly not comply, and when he convenes a sham National Assembly in the future, we will have grounds to speak out. This point should be decided upon at our Party’s Seventh Congress.

[1] This is a note written by Mao Zedong on the telegram drafted by Zhou Enlai in reply to Dong Biwu and Lin Boqu.

[2] Zhang and Zuo refer to Zhang Lan and Zuo Shunsheng.