(October 20, 1958)
Carry out as instructed.
Mao
Chuan
These are two notes written by Mao Zedong on Zhou Enlai’s report dated October 20, 1958, at 12:30 p.m., concerning the issuance of a new statement warning U.S. warships escorting convoys in the Kinmen waters and the question of promulgating the Ministry of National Defense’s order to resume shelling Kinmen. Zhou Enlai’s report stated: “The new statement warning the United States against escorting convoys in the Kinmen waters was broadcast starting at 12:30 today, twice in succession, in both Chinese and foreign languages. The draft of the new statement is attached. The draft order from the Ministry of National Defense has been prepared and is now submitted for your review; please return it to me afterward, so that I may have typewritten copies distributed to Comrades Deng, Chen, and Huang for their examination. At the Xiamen front, all preparations are complete and orders have been issued separately by telephone and in writing, signed by Ke Cheng. It has been made clear that the shelling will be limited to fortifications, positions, and ships on the beaches of the various islands of Kinmen, and that no civilian villages, barracks, or command posts are to be targeted, nor are U.S. vessels to be accidentally hit. Our air and naval forces will not be deployed. The Ministry of National Defense’s order is scheduled to be broadcast at 3 o’clock; after the oral broadcast is read, firing will commence immediately, with simultaneous broadcasts in both Chinese and foreign languages.”

It would be more appropriate to begin the shelling one hour, or perhaps half an hour, after the oral broadcast.
Mao Zedong
1:00 p.m., October 20