Reply to Peng Zhen and Ye Jianying[1]

(February 10, 1949)

The attitude you have adopted toward the Nanjing delegation[2] is appropriate. You may hint to the representatives associated with the Guangxi clique that, so long as the Guangxi clique’s future actions are conducive to the cause of the people’s liberation and to the achievement of a genuine and lasting peace, we will not reject them. You should express to the representatives that we are interested in restoring shipping, postal services, and commercial links with Tianjin and Shanghai, and if they can play some role in this regard, we would welcome it. The representatives’ talk of establishing a new central government rather than utilizing the peace talks to take over the old central government already recognized internationally, and using the authority of the old central government to carry out a punitive campaign against the Chiang Kai-shek clique, truly represents the views of the United States and the Guangxi clique. On these points, you should not reveal your attitude.

[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 and Ye Jianying, with copies to Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen.
[2] This refers to the Nanjing People’s Peace Delegation. The delegation was formed by the then Nanjing People’s Peace Promotion Association, with members including Qiu Zhizhong, Wu Yuhou, Zeng Zisheng, Deng Jiyu, Song Guoshu, Xia Yuanzhi, Wu Zhesheng, Miao Diqing, Liu Dakui, and Huang Nuo. From February 6 to 11, 1949, the delegation visited Beiping in a private capacity to discuss state affairs with the Communist Party of China. During their stay in Beiping, Ye Jianying and others held discussions with them on two occasions.

Reply to Pan Hannian[1]

(February 10, 1949)

You may meet with Zuo Gong and Zhong Tianxin. Tell Zuo and Zhong that among the war criminals, only Chiang Kai-shek and those of his die-hard followers whose crimes are exceptionally heinous cannot be pardoned. Others, including Sun Ke, Xue Yue, Yu Hanmou, and Zhang Fakui, may, provided that at some critical juncture in the future they can stand on the side beneficial to the people’s cause, oppose imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, and be willing to accept the leadership of the Communist Party of China, have their past criminal acts forgiven by the people and be granted a new path forward. You should seize this opportunity to intensify efforts in working on Sun Ke, Xue Yue, Yu Hanmou, and others.

[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 Pan Hannian.