(October 31, 1958)
Comrades Enlai, Chen Yi, and Kecheng III:
The practice of refraining from shelling on even-numbered days should be extended to all areas where it is currently applied—that is, no artillery fire whatsoever on even days—so that Chiang Kai-shek’s forces may come out and move about, bask in the sun, thereby facilitating a protracted standoff. On odd-numbered days, only a limited amount of shelling should be conducted. Inform those within the ranks that this policy is being implemented in Fujian; for the time being, no further public statements will be issued. Should the need arise later, we can then consider issuing another statement. Please discuss and decide on this matter among yourselves.
I am heading south this afternoon.
Mao Zedong
2:00 A.M., October 31st
[I]
Enlai refers to Zhou Enlai. Chen Yi was at the time Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Kecheng refers to Huang Kecheng, who served as Secretary-General of the CPC Central Military Commission, Vice Minister of National Defense, and Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army.
[2]
Beginning in early October 1958, the CPC Central Military Commission ordered the PLA forces on the Fujian front to adopt an on-again, off-again pattern of artillery bombardment against Kinmen. On October 25, the Ministry of National Defense announced again: “On even-numbered days, we will not shell Kinmen’s airfield, the docks at Liao Lan Bay, its beaches, or any ships.”