Central Committee Directive to the Hong Kong Bureau and Others on Exchanging Views with Various Democratic Parties and Groups Regarding the Convening of a New Political Consultative Conference[1]

(May 7, 1948)

To the Hong Kong Bureau, Shanghai Sub-Bureau, and Hannian:

On May Day, the Central Committee has already put forward the slogans of convening a People’s Congress and establishing a democratic coalition government. As a first step, it is proposed to convene a political consultative conference with the participation of all democratic parties and groups that oppose the United States and Chiang Kai-shek, people’s organizations, and prominent public figures not affiliated with any democratic party, group, or people’s organization. Naturally, at present, this is still in the stage of propaganda and exchange of views and has not yet reached the stage of formal decision-making and implementation. You may, in an informal manner or with an attitude of exchanging views (not with an attitude of formal decision-making and invitation), exchange views with all democratic parties and groups, people’s organizations, and prominent public figures who sincerely oppose the United States and Chiang Kai-shek, and report back by telegram the reactions from all sides.

Central Committee
Chenyu

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and addressed to the Hong Kong Bureau, the Shanghai Sub-Bureau, and Pan Hannian.