Letter to Li Jishen [1]
(31 July 1953)

Mr. Renchao:

Your esteemed letter of 28 July [2], together with the long letter [3] forwarded from the five gentlemen Li Yulin, Chen Wenyun, Ding Jin, Li Bingzhi, and Zhang Lianfen, has been received and read. I am most grateful. When convenient, I would be obliged if you would convey my regards to the five gentlemen.

With salutations and respect

Mao Zedong
31 July 1953

[1]
Li Jishen, courtesy name Renchao, was then Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang and Vice Chairman of the Central People’s Government.

[2]
Refers to Li Jishen’s letter to Mao Zedong dated 28 July 1953. The letter stated: “Here are Comrade Li Yulin and four others, all my old schoolmates and colleagues. Last winter, when the Chairman undertook to arrange employment for unemployed military personnel, thanks to the Chairman’s consideration, they were all able to register for service in various departments, and their livelihoods were thus stabilized. They greatly admire and are grateful to the Chairman. On the occasion of the forthcoming 1 August Army Day, out of boundless admiration and gratitude, they offer their humble opinions on current affairs as a rustic’s token of devotion, and have entrusted me to forward them on their behalf.”

[3]
Li Yulin once served as General Yiwei of the Office of Generals in the Beiyang Government during the Beiyang Warlord period. Chen Wenyun once served as Grand Officer for Kulun Affairs in the Beiyang Government during the Beiyang Warlord period. Ding Jin once served as Counsellor of the Ministry of the Army in the Beiyang Government during the Beiyang Warlord period. Li Bingzhi once served as General Huwei of the Office of Generals in the Beiyang Government during the Beiyang Warlord period. Zhang Lianfen once served as Director of the Third Bureau of the General Staff Headquarters in the Beiyang Government during the Beiyang Warlord period. On the occasion of the 1 August Army Day in 1953, they jointly wrote to Mao Zedong, expressing their understanding of and sentiments regarding the Common Programme, the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Manuscript of Mao Zedong’s letter to Li Jishen.