Pay Attention to Absorbing Representatives of the Liberal Bourgeoisie to Participate in Work

(April 7, 1949)

Deng, Rao, Chen[2]:

(1) Please investigate and report whether there will be significant changes in the water level of the Yangtze River within the next month (from early April to early May).

(2) The principal leaders of the Shanghai Democratic National Construction Association—Huang Yanpei, Zhang Naiqi, Sheng Pihua, Bao Dasan, Zhang Jiongbo, Shi Fuliang, and others—have arrived in Beiping and expressed their intention to align with us. They are representatives of Shanghai's liberal bourgeoisie. We believe that without the assistance of the liberal bourgeoisie, the takeover and management of Shanghai may encounter significant difficulties, making it hard to deal with the powerful combined forces of imperialism, bureaucratic capital, and the Kuomintang, and difficult to isolate these hostile forces. You should begin paying attention to this matter now. Therefore, please consider whether it is necessary to involve them in certain work before occupying Shanghai. After occupying Shanghai, attract more such figures to participate in work. If their participation is permitted, what form would be appropriate? Would establishing some kind of advisory body, such as a consultative chamber, be suitable? Please consider and reply.

(3) This point should be noted not only for Shanghai but for the entire Nanjing-Shanghai-Hangzhou region.

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for Li Tao, Director of the Operations Department of the General Staff of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, as a reply to Bai Chongxi.

[2] Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, then First Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Political Commissar of the Second Field Army. Rao refers to Rao Shushi, then Second Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Political Commissar of the East China Military Region. Chen refers to Chen Yi, then Third Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Commander and Political Commissar of the Third Field Army.