Telegram to Peng Dehuai [1] Regarding Active Preparation for the September Offensive (July 26, 1951)

Comrade Dehuai: Your telegram of July 24 [2] has been received. Whether the enemy genuinely seeks an armistice and peace talks will become clear after several more sessions of the Kaesong Conference. Until an armistice agreement is signed and the war truly comes to a halt, it remains entirely necessary for our forces to actively prepare for the September offensive. Mao Zedong July 26

Based on the manuscript copy. Notes [1] Peng Dehuai was at that time Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. [2] Refers to Peng Dehuai’s telegram to Mao Zedong dated July 24, 1951. The telegram stated: U.S. imperialism is in a state of contradiction. If we achieve a few more victorious engagements, pushing south of the 38th Parallel, and then withdraw back to the 38th Parallel as the boundary to commence peace negotiations—while foreign troops in Korea are progressively and proportionately withdrawn—and if we maintain a just and measured stance and engage in complex struggles, there remains a possibility of securing peace. Should this approach fail to bring about peace, we should continue fighting; ultimately, victory in the war is certain. From a strategic perspective, the advantages of peace outweigh those of war, yet we have no fear of continuing the fight. Our forces aim to complete preparations for a counteroffensive campaign by mid-August. If the enemy does not launch an attack, the operation will be carried out in September. Ideally, it would be most advantageous to wait for the enemy to strike, whereupon we could launch our own attacks from our fortified positions.