Letter to Hu Qiaomu[1] on Writing a Brief Commentary about the People's Liberation Army Entering Xinjiang

(October 21, 1949)

Qiaomu:

Our forces arrived in Dihua[2] yesterday. Please write a brief commentary, preferably to be published in the newspapers tomorrow. Regarding news and commentary on the People's Liberation Army entering Xinjiang, avoid using the term "occupy"; always refer to it as arriving at a certain place. The commentary should also mention that this was carried out with the consent of the military and political authorities in Xinjiang, who welcomed the rapid advance of the People's Liberation Army.

Mao Zedong
October 21, 3:00 p.m.
Published based on the manuscript.

Notes
[1] Hu Qiaomu, then Director of the General News Administration of the Central People's Government.
[2] Dihua, present-day Urumqi.