(October 12, 1949)
To Peng and Gan, and to the Northwest Bureau:
We have received your telegram of the 9th, Western Time. (1) Among the Yining National Army’s 121 members, one must serve as deputy commander of the New Province’s 131 Military Region, as previously communicated. (2) The National Army should be renamed the People’s Liberation Army; they already harbor this intention and have requested that we dispatch political cadres. The details regarding this matter, as well as the number of divisions to be formed and their specific designations, will be determined after you 141 arrive in Dihua JSJ to consult with the National Army’s leaders.
(3) A portion of the National Army should advance on Dihua, while another contingent moves toward Wusu. This issue will be decided following discussions with Saifuddin [61], after which we shall inform you.
(4) A branch bureau of the Party leadership should be established in Xinjiang. We agree that Wang Zhen be appointed secretary, Xu Liqing deputy secretary, and Luo Yuanfa, Zhang Xianyue, Rao Zhengxi, Wang Enmao, Guo Peng, Zeng Di, and Deng Liqun serve as members. At present, the autonomous region has only the Democratic League [7J]; there is no Party organization yet (a Party organization ought to be set up).
[1]
This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong on behalf of the CPC Central Committee to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the First Field Army, and to Gan Leiqi, Director of the Political Department.
[2]
The Yining National Army refers to the ethnic armed forces organized in September 1944 by the people of the three regions of Ili, Tacheng, and Altay (now known as Jungar) in Xinjiang, in resistance against the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang. These forces engaged in a prolonged and arduous struggle against the KMT authorities, establishing a liberated zone centered in Yining County, Ili, which had grown to over 14,000 personnel by September 1949.
[3]
The “New Province” refers to Xinjiang Province, which was abolished in 1955 and replaced by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
[4]
Refers to Peng Dehuai.
[5]
Dihua was the former name of the city now known as Urumqi.
[6]
Saifuddin was, at that time, acting chairman of the Central Committee of the Xinjiang League for the Defense of Peace and Democracy.
[7]
The “Democratic League” refers to the Xinjiang League for the Defense of Peace and Democracy.

Regarding whether several leading comrades from the League could temporarily attend branch bureau meetings, we will consider this matter and inform you later.
Central Committee
October 12