1 To His Excellency Chairman Chiang of Chongqing: Your telegram of the 14th [2] has been duly received and understood.
Today, Commander-in-Chief Zhu De sent you a telegram [3] setting forth our side’s views. After you have expressed your own views, I shall consider the question of meeting with you.
Printed from the August 17, 1945 issue of the Liberation Daily, under the signature of Mao Zedong, dated the 16th.


2 To His Excellency Chairman Chiang of Chongqing: I have read your reply [4] in the Central News Agency’s dispatch of the 20th. In the interest of national unity, I am hereby sending Comrade Zhou Enlai to pay you a visit first. Upon his arrival, I earnestly request that you grant him an audience.
Printed from the August 23, 1945 issue of the Liberation Daily, in Yan’an, under the signature of Mao Zedong, dated the 21st.


3 To His Excellency Mr. Chiang Kai-shek: I have carefully studied your telegram [5] and am deeply touched by your kind sentiments. It is my sincere wish to meet with you to discuss the great undertaking of establishing a peaceful nation.
As soon as the plane arrives, Comrade Enlai will immediately proceed to Chongqing to present himself before you.
I, too, am preparing to go to Chongqing without delay.
We shall surely have the opportunity to meet; this is my humble reply.
Respectfully submitted by Mao Zedong, printed from the original manuscript.


Notes [1] This collection comprises three telegrams from Mao Zedong replying to Chiang Kai-shek regarding the negotiations in Chongqing. The first telegram, when published in the Liberation Daily, was prefaced by Mao with the following lead: “On the 14th, Mr. Chiang Kai-shek, Chairman of the Government of the Kuomintang of China, sent a telegram to Mr. Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, inviting him to Chongqing to discuss state affairs, without specifying the scope or content of the discussions. On the 16th, Mr. Mao replied to Mr. Chiang, requesting that he state his views on the specific proposals concerning state matters contained in Commander-in-Chief Zhu De’s telegram to Mr. Chiang, after which he would consider the question of a meeting.” [2] Refers to Chiang Kai-shek’s first telegram of August 14, 1945, inviting Mao Zedong to Chongqing for negotiations. The telegram reads: “Now that the Japanese aggressors have surrendered, the prospect of lasting world peace has become real; all kinds of important international and domestic issues urgently require resolution. Therefore, I respectfully invite you to come without delay to the provisional capital to deliberate together. As this concerns the fundamental interests of the nation, I hope you will not hesitate to make the journey. I look forward to your prompt arrival with the utmost eagerness.” [3] Refers to the telegram drafted by Mao Zedong on behalf of General Zhu De, Commander-in-Chief of the Eighth Route Army, addressed to Chiang Kai-shek and dated August 16, 1945 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Volume IV, People’s Publishing House, 1991 edition, pp. 1142–1146). [4] Refers to Chiang Kai-shek’s second telegram of August 20, 1945, inviting Mao Zedong to Chongqing for negotiations. While using the excuse that “the procedures for accepting Japan’s surrender were prescribed by Allied Headquarters and are to be followed uniformly in each theater of war, including the China Theater,” thereby rejecting the requests made in General Zhu De’s telegram of the 16th regarding the surrender of Japanese forces, the telegram once again appealed to the banner of “peaceful nation-building,” urging Mao to come to Chongqing for talks. It stated: “I sincerely hope that you will bear in mind the grave peril facing our country and feel compassion for the suffering of our people, so that we may join forces to devote ourselves to national reconstruction. How best to turn the fruits of the War of Resistance into achievements of nation-building depends very much upon your gracious visit, during which we can jointly formulate a grand plan. I therefore write to you once more, earnestly requesting your acceptance of this invitation.” [5] Refers to Chiang Kai-shek’s third telegram of August 23, 1945, inviting Mao Zedong to Chongqing for negotiations. The telegram reads: “I am greatly gratified to learn that Comrade Zhou Enlai has been dispatched to Chongqing for consultations. However, at present there are still many important matters that require face-to-face discussion with you, and time is pressing. I continue to hope that you will kindly accompany Comrade Enlai, so that these crucial issues may be resolved swiftly, for the future of our nation truly depends on it. We have already prepared an aircraft to receive you, and I am writing to you once more, urging you to set out without delay.”