There Exists the Possibility of Resolving the
Problem in the Northwest through Peaceful
Means
(April 28, 1949)
Comrade Dehuai:1
If the side of the Northwest Field Army2 for the time being does not fight
large battles, is it possible for you, before returning to Shaanxi, to come to the
central headquarters to discuss using peaceful means to resolve the problem in
the Northwest? It seems that this type of possibility exists. Zhang Zhizhong3 and
other people have now decided to remain in Beiping and draw close to our side.
With respect to this issue of using peaceful methods to resolve the problem in
the Northwest, we should perhaps consider doing this with the help of Zhang
Zhizhong. What do you think? I look forward to your reply.
Mao Zedong
April 28
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 5, pp. 564–65, where it is
1.  Peng Dehuai at the time was serving as commander and political commissar of the
First Field Army.
2.  The name of the Northwest Field Army was changed to the “First Field Army” in
February 1949.
3.  Zhang Zhizhong originally served as a Nationalist senior officer and government
official for military and political affairs in the Northwest. In January 1949, serving as chief
representative of the Nationalist government on the delegation for peace negotiations, he
led the delegation to Beiping to carry out negotiations with the Communist Party delegation. On April 15, the two sides drafted the “Domestic Peace Accords (Final Amendment).”
On April 20, the Nationalist government refused to sign the agreement. Thereafter, Zhang
Zhizhong and others decided to break away from the Nationalist government and to remain
in Beiping.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-262

reproduced according to the original manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.