General Fu Zuoyi: I have carefully read your telegram of April 1.
The policy of the reactionary Nationalist government in Nanjing to launch a counter-revolutionary civil war is utterly wrong.
This government must bear responsibility for the immense calamities that the Chinese people have suffered over the past several years as a result of this counter-revolutionary civil war.
However, we welcome all officials—civilian and military—of the Nationalist reactionary government who have implemented this policy, provided they can clearly distinguish right from wrong, sincerely repent, demonstrate such repentance through concrete actions, and thereby contribute to the advancement of the people’s liberation cause and to the peaceful resolution of domestic issues, regardless of their individual status.
As for the peaceful settlement of the Beiping issue, Your Excellency has rendered distinguished service.
We consider it most commendable—and indeed worthy of our warmest welcome—that you now wish to stand on the side of the people and participate in the construction of a new democratic China.
Mao Zedong, April 2, 1949, printed from the manuscript.
Note [1]: Fu Zuoyi was formerly Commander-in-Chief of the Nationalist Army’s North China “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.
On January 21, 1949, he reached an agreement with the People’s Liberation Army on “The Agreement on the Peaceful Resolution of the Beiping Question” and led his troops to undergo peaceful reorganization.
On April 1, 1949, Fu Zuoyi issued a nationwide telegram declaring his political stance in support of the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the implementation of new democracy, and the peaceful construction of a new China.