(September 8, 1950)
Nie
Request Chai 121 to first see Zhou
Mao Zedong
September 8
Chuan

Note 1: This is Mao Zedong’s comment on the report submitted on September 8, 1950 by Nie Rongzhen, Acting Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government. Note 2: This is Mao Zedong’s comment on the “Outline Report on the Current Situation of the Korean War” by Chai Junwu, Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
[2]
Chai refers to Chai Junwu, later renamed Chai Chengwen.
[3]
Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.
[4]
Nie Rongzhen’s report stated: Chai Junwu returned to Beijing yesterday. I have arranged to talk with him this afternoon. Because our embassy personnel cannot go down to the localities, their understanding of the situation is limited and not profound. I now first submit the draft written report. If a face-to-face briefing is required, please inform me of the time.

After Zhou reads it, have Liu, Zhu, and Ren[1] read it, then return it to Nie.
Request Zhou to arrange a talk with Chai Junwu, to assign tasks and methods. Whether the several persons from the 13th Army Corps who went with Chai should be summoned to Beijing to receive face-to-face instructions together with Chai, please have Zhou decide at his discretion. Before Chai and the others set out, it seems appropriate to arrange a talk with Ambassador Li Zhouyuan[3], to inform him of the tasks of Chai and the others, and to seek the consent of Kim[4]; they can only set out after obtaining consent.
[1]
Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Ren refers to Ren Bishi.
Mao Zedong
September 8
[2]
Chai Junwu’s “Outline Report on the Current Situation of the Korean War” reported on the situation in Korea and his observations from five aspects: (1) The three periods of the war’s development. (2) Assessment of the current enemy troop strength, unit designations, and positions. (3) The troop strength, unit designations, and positions of the People’s Army. (4) Impressions and observations. (5) Work in the various recovered cities of Korea.
[3]
Li Zhouyuan, then Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to China.
[4]
Kim refers to Kim Il Sung, then Premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.