Telegram of Condolences to the Family of
Mr. Li Gongpu
(July 13, 1946)
(Xinhua News Agency dispatch, Yan’an, July 15) Chairman Mao and Commander-in-chief Zhu sent a telegram of condolences to the family of Mr. Li Gongpu on
July 13; the text of the original telegram is as follows:
To the wife of Mr. Li Gongpu,1 Madam Zhang Manjun [1901–1975, native of
Jiangsu], in Kunming:
We are greatly shocked and extremely angered to learn that Mr. Li Gongpu has
been shot and killed by the reactionaries! Mr. Li Gongpu devoted his life to the
cause of national salvation and progressive culture. He was a person who would
never be subdued by force and never became corrupted by wealth. Now he has
fallen victim to the murderous schemes of the reactionaries because of his devotion to peace and democracy. This is a loss for the people of the whole country but
also to the eternal glory of Mr. Li Gongpu. People all over the country are sure to
take the death of Mr. Li Gongpu as an alarm bell to rise up forcefully to save the
country and to save themselves. This telegram brings our sincere condolences.
Mao Zedong
Zhu De
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 8, p. 109, where it is reproduced
from Jiefang ribao, July 15, 1946.

--- Notes

1.  Li Gongpu (Li Kungpu, 1902–1946, native of Jiangsu) was a prominent member of
the China Democratic League. He was gunned down by an unknown assailant on a Kunming
street on July 11. Another Democratic League member, Wen Yiduo (1899–1946, aka Wen
Ito, born in what is now Xishui county of Hubei Province), a professor of Chinese literature
at Southwest Associated University, was also killed after speaking at a memorial assembly
for Li on July 15, 1946. An operative of the Guomindang secret police was executed in 1959
for killing Li.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-201