Reply to Peng Zhen, Ye Jianying, and Xu Bing
(February 5, 1949)

If the five representatives from Shanghai and Li’s personal representative are not coming to conduct a peace offensive but genuinely wish to resolve the problems of Nanjing, Shanghai, and Wuhan by peaceful means (nationwide problems are out of the question), then we may permit them to come to Beiping and hold a trial discussion with our local personnel (the mayor of Beiping). If, however, they intend to carry out a so-called peace offensive for the benefit of the United States and Chiang Kai-shek, then there is no need for them to come to Beiping, and even if they do come, we will sharply expose them. On this point, let Ye clearly inform Liu Zhonghua and have him go back and notify Li, Bai, and those in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan who wish to come and discuss peace.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in reply to Peng Zhen, Ye Jianying, and Xu Bing. Xu Bing was then serving as vice mayor of Beiping Municipality.

Statement by the Spokesman of the Communist Party of China
on the Necessity of Including the Punishment of
Japanese War Criminals and Kuomintang War Criminals
in the Peace Conditions
(February 5, 1949)

The statement issued on January 28 by the spokesman of the Communist Party of China on the question of peace negotiations received a reply on January 31 from the spokesman of the reactionary and traitorous Kuomintang government. In that reply, the spokesman of the reactionary and traitorous Kuomintang government resorted to sophistry on every question raised by the spokesman of the Communist Party of China. With regard to the demand of the Communist Party of China that the reactionary and traitorous Kuomintang government assume responsibility for the re-arrest of Okamura Yasutsugu, the chief culprit in Japan’s war of aggression against China, and prepare to hand him over to the People’s Liberation Army, and assume responsibility for the custody of other Japanese war criminals so as to prevent their escape, the spokesman said that this “is a judicial matter. This has absolutely nothing to do with the peace negotiations, still less can it be made a precondition for peace negotiations.” With regard to the demand of the Communist Party of China that the reactionary and traitorous Kuomintang government assume responsibility for the arrest of Chiang Kai-shek and other war criminals, he said that “a genuine peace should have no preconditions.” He further stated that the statement of the spokesman of the Communist Party of China “appears to lack due seriousness in attitude” and is “introducing extraneous matters.” To this, the spokesman of the Communist Party declares: At the time of January 28, we still referred to the reactionary and traitorous Kuomintang government as a government, and on this point, our attitude indeed lacked due seriousness. Does this so-called “government” still exist, after all? Does it exist in Nanjing? Nanjing has no executive organ. Does it exist in Guangzhou? Guangzhou has no administrative head. Does it exist in Shanghai? Shanghai has neither an executive organ nor an administrative head. Does it exist in Fenghua? In Fenghua there is only a bogus president who has declared his “retirement,” and nothing else. Therefore, speaking seriously, it should no longer be regarded as a government; at most, it is merely a putative or symbolic government.