To the General Front Committee and Others
(May 3, 1949)
[1]
The General Front Committee has forwarded a telegram dated April 30 from Political Commissar Yuan Zhongxian, Commander Chen Shiju, and Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department Jiang Weiqing of the Eighth Army, reporting that the 35th Army handled foreign affairs matters on its own authority without requesting instructions. Please relay this to the East China Field Army, the Central Plains Field Army, and to all armies and divisions as a warning. Judging from the anarchic and undisciplined erroneous acts committed by the 35th Army during its first few days in Nanjing, it appears that during the period of preparation for crossing the river you did not issue clear stipulations regarding foreign policy and many other matters (for example, the rule that in the cities troops must buy tickets just like ordinary citizens when attending plays, watching movies, taking baths, riding streetcars, or riding buses—no special privileges are allowed—and that they may not accept comfort offerings from the people without permission from higher authorities). If there are no such stipulations, you should swiftly formulate them and issue a general order for all units to obey in unison. If such stipulations already existed and the 35th Army deliberately violated them, then, in addition to inspecting the work of that army, drawing conclusions, and circulating them to all units, you should reiterate the previous orders to all armies, calling their attention to the matter and forbidding any further violations. If various armies can handle major matters such as foreign affairs on their own authority, without requesting instructions or reporting, as they please and from place to place, the repercussions will be extremely dangerous.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to the General Front Committee, the East China Bureau, Su Yu, Zhang Zhen, Liu Bocheng, Zhang Jichun, and Li Da.