Speech at the Consultative Conference
Reception
(September 18, 1945)
On September 18, members of the People’s Political Consultative Conference
in Chongqing held a tea party to welcome Comrade Mao. At the party, Comrade
Mao delivered an address. In brief, he said:
Today is the anniversary of the September 18th Incident,1 and we should first
celebrate our victory. After the eight-year War of Resistance, victory has finally
come. The Northeast in particular was occupied by the enemy for fourteen years,
ever since the September 18th Incident. Today, it has also been liberated. I personally feel very excited to be here today. But most of all, I am honored by the
opportunity to meet at this time with all of you gentlemen, friends, and elders.
Recalling the War of Resistance period, although it was a time of extreme hardship, we have now passed safely through it thanks to the united efforts of the
entire country. Chairman Chiang has specially invited me to Chongqing to discuss
national affairs with him and his intentions are greatly appreciated. From now on,
there should be a new era of peaceful development and peaceful national reconstruction. We must unite as one and resolutely avoid civil war. Any other orientation would be wrong. Therefore, the various political parties and groups should
all unite under the aforementioned principle and thoroughly implement the Three
People’s Principles to build a modernized new China.
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong ji, Vol. 9, p. 331, where it is reproduced from the
pamphlet Wei heping er fendou (Xinhua ribaoshe, November 1945).
1.  The Mukden or Manchurian Incident, on September 18, 1931, marked the Japanese
invasion of Northeast China.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-36