Telegram to Zhou Enlai[1]

(April 13, 1949)

This afternoon, the delegations of both sides should hold a formal meeting. At this meeting, it should be announced that, beginning today (the 13th), the stage of informal negotiations is concluded and the stage of formal negotiations is entered, lasting five days from the 13th to the 17th. At this meeting, broadly explain the main points of the draft agreement and solicit their opinions. Also, indicate to Zhang Zhizhong that the issue must be decided on April 17. After the 18th, regardless of the success or failure of the negotiations, the People's Liberation Army must cross the river. The personnel they send back to Nanjing should depart on the morning of the 14th and must return by the afternoon of the 15th. If the four key Nanjing figures (Li, Yu, Ju, Tong[2], excluding Zhang Qun[3]) wish to come to Beiping, they must arrive by the 15th or at the latest the 16th, and the signing ceremony must be held on the 17th. Efforts should be made to secure the agreement of all six members of the Nanjing delegation to sign. If Li, He, and Bai are unwilling to sign, as long as they themselves are willing to sign, they may also sign. After signing, they cannot return; have all of them remain in Beiping. If they dare not sign because Nanjing does not agree to sign, and some wish to return, then efforts must be made to secure the three representatives Zhang, Shao, and Zhang[4] and the four advisers[5] to stay in Beiping. This evening, a meeting of representatives (ten persons) from various parties and groups should be held.

--- Notes

[1] This is the main content of Mao Zedong's telegram to Zhou Enlai regarding the entry of the KMT-CPC delegation's peace negotiations into the formal stage.


[2] Li, Yu, Ju, Tong refer to Li Zongren, Yu Youren, Ju Zheng, and Tong Guanxian.


[3] Zhang Qun was then a member of the Political Affairs Committee of the Executive Yuan of the Nationalist government.


[4] Zhang, Shao, Zhang refer to Zhang Zhizhong, Shao Lizi, and Zhang Shizhao.


[5] Refers to the advisers of the Nationalist government's negotiation delegation: Qu Wu, Liu Zhonghua, Li Junlong, and Jin Shan.