Letter to Xiang Mingqing
(April 19, 1950)

Source: Shuxin, p. 359.

According to the source, Xiang Mingqing was a native of Pingjiang, Hunan, and Yang
Kaihui’s (Mao’s former wife) uncle. See text Oct. 9, 1949, note 1, and text May 11,
1957, note 1.

Mr. Mingqing:’
I have long since received your letter of October 12 last year. Permit me to
apologize for the fact that, owing to [preoccupation with] other business, I
have been late in responding. Your nephew Comrade Xiang Jun was a member of the Communist Party. In 1927 he was the secretary of the Hengshan
xian [Party] Committee and was an honest and capable comrade. When the
KMT betrayed us in 1927, he was arrested and gloriously gave his life for the
cause. You may report all this information to the Hunan Provincial [Party]
Committee. However, as for the matter of [disbursing funds for] the comforting of the bereaved, it has to be done uniformly and must not take only a few
[special cases] into consideration. If the provincial committee is not yet able
to handle the matter, you must understand the situation.
In reply and with respectful regards for your health.
Mao Zedong
April 19, 1950

Note

1. See text Nov. 17, 1949, note 2, for an explanation of this usage.

APRIL - JUNE 1950 / 1