Statement Opposing the North Atlantic Treaty
(April 3, 1949)

The North Atlantic Treaty, to be signed on April 4 by the governments of the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Italy and others, is a treaty endangering the peace and security of mankind, aimed at provoking a new world war of aggression. Given that world peace is indivisible, that the peoples of East and West share weal and woe, and that in fact the governments of Britain, the United States and others are also striving to extend the model of the North Atlantic Treaty to the Pacific region, the democratic parties of China hereby express their firm opposition to the North Atlantic Treaty and any other similar aggressive schemes.

The democratic parties of China condemn the aggressive policy of the U.S. imperialist government and its accomplices in betraying the Potsdam Agreement and other agreements safeguarding international peace, betraying the United Nations Organization, and betraying the peace aspirations of the peoples of all countries. The democratic parties of China express warm sympathy and loyal support for the struggle of the world peaceful and democratic forces, headed by the Soviet Union, against the danger of a new war. The democratic parties of China firmly believe that this struggle will bring the imperialists who instigate war and their running dogs in various countries under the condemnation of the peace-loving people of the world and isolate them, and will bring the conspiracy for a new world war of aggression to bankruptcy. We hold that the world belongs to the people, not to the imperialists and their running dogs. The rampancy and arrogance of the imperialists and their running dogs are but a temporary phenomenon; all their plots and intrigues, together with themselves, will be exposed and cast aside by the people.

At the same time, the democratic parties of China, on behalf of the great Chinese people, solemnly declare: If the imperialist[1] aggressive bloc dares to provoke this reactionary war that endangers the people of the whole world, then we will unite the entire people of the country, abide by the immortal testament of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, adopt necessary means, and join hands with our ally the Soviet Union and the peaceful and democratic forces of all countries to wage a resolute struggle against the instigators of aggressive war, defeat the aggressors, overthrow the entire imperialist system, and achieve the liberation of all mankind and lasting peace. We hold that if war breaks out, the imperialist aggressor countries will certainly be the losers, and the anti-imperialist victim countries will certainly be the victors. This prospect has already been made clear to the people of the world by the experience of the Second World War.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Li Jishen, Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang
Shen Junru and Zhang Bojun, Responsible Standing Committee Members of the China Democratic League
Huang Yanpei, Standing Director of the Democratic National Construction Association
Ma Xulun, Standing Director of the China Association for Promoting Democracy
Tan Pingshan, Standing Committee Member of the Chinese Kuomintang Comrades' Association for the Three People's Principles
Peng Zemin, Chairman of the Central Control Committee of the Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party
Li Zhangda, Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Chinese People's National Salvation Association
Cai Tingkai, Acting Chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang Democratic Promotion Association
Chen Qiyou, Chairman of the China Zhi Gong Party
April 3, 1949

[1] This statement was jointly issued by Mao Zedong and leaders of other Chinese democratic parties.