Remarks at the Meeting of the Presidium of the Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[1]

(September 22, 1944)

At present, the centre of gravity shows a tendency to shift gradually, and we ourselves often underestimate this. The opening up of this session of the Political Consultative Conference is advantageous to us, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to release documents from both sides. Now, before the whole nation, it has been exposed that in China there exist two entities of equal standing, not one big and one small. The twelve principles were correctly raised, but the reorganization of the government was not yet envisaged. Now the time is ripe, and the situation is changing very rapidly. At this session of the Political Consultative Conference, they no longer dare to raise the charges of “undermining the War of Resistance” or “endangering the nation.” The high prestige of the Chinese Communist Party in the Great Rear Area is a matter drawing the attention of the whole nation and the whole world. Now, to resolve the China question, we must be taken into account. On the question of examining cadres, do not rush to conclusions; wait until the entire screening work has reached a stage of completion, and then let the Central Committee discuss it once more. Because many people were wrongly dealt with, I have some doubts about the “rescue”; the trouble arose precisely here. Henceforth, the term “rescue” must not be used.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s remarks at the meeting of the Presidium of the Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, discussing the situation, relations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the examination of cadres, and other issues.

On September 26, 1944, Mao Zedong and others watched a military technical performance by the Left-behind Corps of the Eighth Route Army.

In September 1944, Mao Zedong was in conversation with Ye Jianying and Lu Dingyi.

In September 1944, Mao Zedong was with Wu Yuzhang and Chen Yi in Yan’an.

In September 1944, Mao Zedong was with Zhu De and He Changgong in Yan’an.

Archival photograph.

In September 1944, Mao Zedong was together with Zhou Enlai, Lu Dingyi, Deng Fa, and Ye Jianying.