Xinhua News Agency Authorized to Refute the Peace Rumors
(September 2, 1948)

[North Shaanxi, September 2, via Xinhua] — The Xinhua News Agency is authorized to declare: The so-called letter from Zhou Enlai to Zhang Zhizhong published in certain newspapers and periodicals in the Kuomintang-controlled areas during July and August is entirely a fabrication by the Chiang gang. According to reliable intelligence, as the military defeats of the Chiang gang became increasingly evident, especially after the severe setbacks in the battles for Kaifeng and eastern Henan, certain U.S. imperialist elements have shown growing loss of confidence in the Chiang gang’s combat capability. They are attempting to exploit reactionary warlords and politicians such as Li Zongren, He Yingqin, and Song Ziwen, so that when the Chiang gang suffers further defeats and can no longer hold on, they may use the mask of peace to deceive the Chinese people and replace Chiang Kai-shek in continuing the opposition to the revolutionary forces of the Chinese people. This scheme of the U.S. imperialists has caused panic among Chiang Kai-shek’s close followers, especially the CC Clique. Consequently, the Kuomintang [1] Central Propaganda Department forged the so-called letter from Zhou Enlai to Zhang Zhizhong, distributed it to provincial and municipal party headquarters, and instructed KMT secret agents in major cities to spread peace rumors, thereby striking at Li, He, Song, and others, in order to consolidate internal unity and preserve Chiang Kai-shek’s position.

If one asks why the CC Clique wanted to strike at Zhang Zhizhong, it is because although Zhang Zhizhong is loyal to Chiang Kai-shek, he is worried about Chiang’s military situation. When Chiang Kai-shek convened a meeting in Xi’an in late June with Zhang Zhizhong, Hu Zongnan, [2] and others, Zhang Zhizhong inquired whether peace talks could be held at present. After this remark was leaked, the CC Clique deemed it necessary to strike at Zhang Zhizhong. However, the central purpose of the CC Clique in spreading the peace rumors is their fear that the Americans are attempting to use Li, He, Song, and others to replace Chiang Kai-shek. To protect the position of Chiang Kai-shek and his close followers, they consider it necessary to expose this in advance. As for the anti-communist speech drafted by the CC Clique during this period and delivered by Weng Wenhao [3] over the radio, it was primarily intended for the Americans, with the aim of pleading with those Americans who have lost confidence in Chiang Kai-shek to continue extending him protection. They are telling these Americans that even the peace talks scheme to deceive the Chinese people must not be used, as it would not only harm the interests of Chiang Kai-shek and his close followers but also harm the interests of the United States. Such is the truth behind all the so-called peace rumors in the recent period.

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[1] This was a statement written by Mao Zedong for the Xinhua News Agency.
[2] Zhang Zhizhong was then serving as Director of the Kuomintang’s Northwest Military and Political Affairs Office. In 1949, he served as the chief representative of the KMT government’s peace negotiation delegation and conducted negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party delegation in Beiping. After the domestic peace agreement drafted by the representatives of both sides was rejected by the KMT government, Zhang remained in Beiping. Following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he served as Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, among other positions.
[3] Li Zongren was then Vice President of the KMT government and became Acting President in January 1949. After the collapse of the KMT regime, he went to the United States. In July 1965, he returned to Beijing.
[4] He Yingqin was then Minister of National Defense of the KMT government.
[5] Song Ziwen was then Director of the KMT Guangzhou Pacification Office and Governor of Guangdong Province.
[6] After the establishment of the Nanjing National Government in 1927, Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu organized the "Central Club" (CC), which controlled the "Investigation and Statistics Bureau" (abbreviated as "Zhongtong") of the KMT Central Party Headquarters. This KMT secret service faction became known as the CC Clique.

[1] Hu Zongnan was then Director of the KMT Xi’an Pacification Office.
[2] Weng Wenhao was then President of the Executive Yuan of the KMT government. A renowned geologist of China, he returned from France in 1951 and served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Manuscript of the statement "Xinhua News Agency Authorized to Refute the Peace Rumors," written by Mao Zedong for the Xinhua News Agency.