Matters to Note in Discussions with the Korean Comrades[1]

(November 12, 1950)

Comrade Dehuai:

All your telegrams have been received. The various views on cooperation with the Korean comrades are all appropriate. In the discussions, please pay attention to the approach, adopting a tactful, indirect, and gentle attitude. And be mentally prepared for the following: some views may not get through, and disputes and differences may persist for quite a long time. It will only be after many battles have been won, and the views of the Chinese comrades have been proven correct many times in practice, that they will be endorsed and accepted by the Korean comrades. If this is the case, it is also very natural. We plan to make some suggestions to Comrade Filippov[2] here, and will inform you when there are results.

Mao Zedong
November 12

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.
[2] Filippov, i.e., Stalin.