Letter to Situ Meitang
(January 20, 1949)

Mr. Situ Meitang:
Your kind letter of October 23 last year has only now reached me because of transportation difficulties. I am deeply moved and impressed by your warm sentiments and farsighted views. The Chinese people's struggle for liberation is daily approaching nationwide victory, and it is a matter of the utmost urgency to convene a new Political Consultative Conference, establish a democratic coalition government, unite the forces of the people throughout the country and the overseas compatriots, and fully realize the cause of the Chinese people's independence and liberation. To this end, it is imperative to hold joint discussions with all the democratic parties and personages and all democratic personages from various circles. I earnestly hope that you will set aside your affairs and return to China at an early date to attend the conference in the Liberated Areas. If your journey will still take some time, please send your opinions on the preparations by telegram in advance so as to facilitate the proceedings. I send you this telegram of welcome and look forward to your reply.

Mao Zedong
January 20, 1949

[1] Situ Meitang (1868–1955), a native of Kaiping, Guangdong, was a patriotic overseas Chinese leader. He once served as chairman of the China Zhi Gong Party in the Americas. In 1949, he was invited to return to China to attend the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. After the founding of New China, he served as a member of the Central People's Government and a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.