Telegram in Reply to Zheng Weisan, Li Xiannian, and Ren Zhibin[1]

(December 25, 1944)

The U.S. military is paying close attention to the friction between the Guomindang and the Communist Party. Having heard that Chiang Kai-shek ordered Li Zongren to launch an offensive against us, they immediately directed personnel such as Oakes[2] to proceed to your area to conduct an investigation into who is attacking whom. It is hoped that you will keep Oakes informed at all times of all instances of unprovoked offensive actions by the Guomindang. At the same time, it is hoped that you will issue a general order to all units reiterating the self-defense principle of "we will not attack unless we are attacked," so as to give the Guomindang no pretext.

[1] This is the main content of Mao Zedong's telegram in reply to Zheng Weisan, Li Xiannian, and Ren Zhibin.
[2] The original Chinese text uses the transliteration "欧高士," referring to a U.S. military officer. The standard English name is likely "Oakes."