Telegram by Chairman Mao in Reply to
Chiang Kaishek1
(August 16, 1945)
(Xinhua News Agency, Yan’an, August 17) Chairman of the Nationalist
Government, Chiang Kaishek, sent a telegram on the 14th to Mao Zedong, chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, inviting the latter
to Chongqing to discuss state affairs, but without mentioning the scope or content
of the discussion. On August 16, Chairman Mao sent a reply to Chiang, asking Mr. Chiang to state his views regarding Commander-in-Chief Zhu’s specific
opinions on state affairs contained in his telegram to Chiang. Mao said he will
then consider the issue of whether to meet Chiang. Chairman Mao’s telegram is
as follows:
For the perusal of Honorable Chairman Chiang in Chongqing:
May I direct your attention to the following:
I am apprised of your message.2 Commander-in-Chief Zhu De sent you a telegram today stating our humble opinions.3 I will consider the issue of meeting you
after you state your views.
Mao Zedong
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong xinwen gongzuo wenxuan, p. 251.
1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of Xinhua News Agency.
2.  The message arrived on August 14.
3.  This message was sent to Chiang Kaishek on behalf of the commander-in-chief of
the Fourteenth Army. News of Mao Zedong’s reply to Chiang Kaishek and to Commanderin-Chief Zhu De’s telegram to Chiang was publicized by Xinhua News Agency on the same
day.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-15