united front as our solid Great Wall.The application of the policy of armed resistance and of the above measures depends on this united front.Here the key is close cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.Let the government,the troops,all the political parties and the whole people unite on the basis of such co-operation between the two parties.The slogan "Unity in good faith to meet the national crisis"must not be limited to fine words but must be demonstrated in fine deeds.Unity must be genuine,deception will not do.There must be more large-mindedness and a broader sweep in the conduct of state affairs.Petty niggling,mean tricks, bureaucracy,and Ah Q-ism I6l are of no use at all.They are of no avail against the enemy and simply ridiculous if practiced on one's own countrymen.There are major and minor principles in everything,and the minor principles are all subordinate to the major.Our compatriots must think things over carefully in the light of the major principles,for only then will they be able to orientate their own ideas and actions properly.Today,anyone who has not begun to have some genuine desire for unity ought to examine his conscience in the stillness of the night and feel some shame, even if no one else censures him The set of measures for resolute armed resistance described above may be called the Eight-Point Programme. The policy of resolute armed resistance must be accompanied by this set of measures,or otherwise victory will never be achieved and Japanese aggression against China will never be ended,while China will be helpless against Japan and hardly be able to escape the fate of Abyssinia. Whoever is sincere about the policy of resolute armed resistance must put this set of measures into practice.And the test of whether or not he is sincere about resolute armed resistance is whether or not he accepts and carries out this set of measures. There is another set of measures which is contrary to this set in every respect. Not the total mobilization of the armed forces.but their immobilization or withdrawal Not freedom for the people,but oppression. Not a government of national defence based on democratic centralism,but an autocratic government of bureaucrats,compradors and big landlords. Not a foreign policy of resisting Japan,but one of fawning on her. Not the improvement of the people's livelihood,but continued extortions so that they groan under their sufferings and are powerless to resist Japan. Not education for national defence,but education for national subjugation. Not financial and economic policies for resisting Japan,but the same old,or even worse,financial and economic policies benefiting the enemy rather than our own country. Not building up the Anti-Japanese National United Front as our Great Wall,but tearing it down,or
united front as our solid Great Wall.The application of the policy of armed resistance and of the above measures depends on this united front. Here the key is close cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. Let the government, the troops, all the political parties and the whole people unite on the basis of such co-operation between the two parties. The slogan "Unity in good faith to meet the national crisis" must not be limited to fine words but must be demonstrated in fine deeds. Unity must be genuine, deception will not do. There must be more large-mindedness and a broader sweep in the conduct of state affairs. Petty niggling, mean tricks, bureaucracy, and Ah Q-ism [6] are of no use at all. They are of no avail against the enemy and simply ridiculous if practiced on one's own countrymen. There are major and minor principles in everything, and the minor principles are all subordinate to the major. Our compatriots must think things over carefully in the light of the major principles, for only then will they be able to orientate their own ideas and actions properly. Today, anyone who has not begun to have some genuine desire for unity ought to examine his conscience in the stillness of the night and feel some shame, even if no one else censures him. The set of measures for resolute armed resistance described above may be called the Eight-Point Programme. The policy of resolute armed resistance must be accompanied by this set of measures, or otherwise victory will never be achieved and Japanese aggression against China will never be ended, while China will be helpless against Japan and hardly be able to escape the fate of Abyssinia. Whoever is sincere about the policy of resolute armed resistance must put this set of measures into practice. And the test of whether or not he is sincere about resolute armed resistance is whether or not he accepts and carries out this set of measures. There is another set of measures which is contrary to this set in every respect. Not the total mobilization of the armed forces, but their immobilization or withdrawal. Not freedom for the people, but oppression. Not a government of national defence based on democratic centralism, but an autocratic government of bureaucrats, compradors and big landlords. Not a foreign policy of resisting Japan, but one of fawning on her. Not the improvement of the people's livelihood, but continued extortions so that they groan under their sufferings and are powerless to resist Japan. Not education for national defence, but education for national subjugation. Not financial and economic policies for resisting Japan, but the same old, or even worse, financial and economic policies benefiting the enemy rather than our own country. Not building up the Anti-Japanese National United Front as our Great Wall, but tearing it down, or
talking glibly about unity while never doing anything to advance it. Measures stem from policy.If the policy is one of non-resistance,all measures will reflect non- resistance;we have been taught this lesson over the last six years.If the policy is one of resolute armed resistance,then it is imperative to apply the appropriate measures-the Eight-Point Programme. III.TWO PERSPECTIVES What are the perspectives?This is what everyone is anxious about.Pursue the first policy and adopt the first set of measures,and the perspective will definitely be the expulsion of Japanese imperialism and the attainment of China's liberation.Can there still be any doubt about it?I think not. Pursue the second policy and adopt the second set of measures,and the perspective will definitely be the occupation of China by the Japanese imperialists,with the Chinese people being turned into slaves and beasts of burden.Can there still be any doubt about it?Again,I think not. IV.CONCLUSION It is imperative to carry out the first policy,to adopt the first set of measures and to strive for the first perspective. It is imperative to oppose the second policy,to reject the second set of measures and to avert the second perspective. Let all patriotic members of the Kuomintang and all members of the Communist Party unite and steadfastly carry out the first policy,adopt the first set of measures and strive for the first perspective;let them steadfastly oppose the second policy,reject the second set of measures and avert the second perspective. Let all patriotic people,patriotic troops and patriotic parties and groups unite as one and steadfastly carry out the first policy,adopt the first set of measures and strive for the first perspective,let them steadfastly oppose the second policy,reject the second set of measures and avert the second perspective. Long live the national revolutionary war! Long live the liberation of the Chinese nation! NOTES 1.On July 7,1937,the Japanese invading forces attacked the Chinese garrison at Lukouchiao, some ten kilometres southwest of Peking.Under the influence of the ardent nation-wide anti- Japanese movement,the Chinese troops put up resistance.This incident marked the beginning of the Chinese people's heroic War of Resistance Against Japan which lasted for eight years
talking glibly about unity while never doing anything to advance it. Measures stem from policy. If the policy is one of non-resistance, all measures will reflect nonresistance; we have been taught this lesson over the last six years. If the policy is one of resolute armed resistance, then it is imperative to apply the appropriate measures- the Eight-Point Programme. III. TWO PERSPECTIVES What are the perspectives? This is what everyone is anxious about. Pursue the first policy and adopt the first set of measures, and the perspective will definitely be the expulsion of Japanese imperialism and the attainment of China's liberation. Can there still be any doubt about it? I think not. Pursue the second policy and adopt the second set of measures, and the perspective will definitely be the occupation of China by the Japanese imperialists, with the Chinese people being turned into slaves and beasts of burden. Can there still be any doubt about it? Again, I think not. IV. CONCLUSION It is imperative to carry out the first policy, to adopt the first set of measures and to strive for the first perspective. It is imperative to oppose the second policy, to reject the second set of measures and to avert the second perspective. Let all patriotic members of the Kuomintang and all members of the Communist Party unite and steadfastly carry out the first policy, adopt the first set of measures and strive for the first perspective; let them steadfastly oppose the second policy, reject the second set of measures and avert the second perspective. Let all patriotic people, patriotic troops and patriotic parties and groups unite as one and steadfastly carry out the first policy, adopt the first set of measures and strive for the first perspective, let them steadfastly oppose the second policy, reject the second set of measures and avert the second perspective. Long live the national revolutionary war! Long live the liberation of the Chinese nation! NOTES 1. On July 7, 1937, the Japanese invading forces attacked the Chinese garrison at Lukouchiao, some ten kilometres southwest of Peking. Under the influence of the ardent nation-wide antiJapanese movement, the Chinese troops put up resistance. This incident marked the beginning of the Chinese people's heroic War of Resistance Against Japan which lasted for eight years
2.The 28th Army,which was originally part of the Kuomintang's Northwestern Army under Feng Yu-hsiang,was then stationed in Hopei and Chahar Provinces.Sung Cheh-yuan was its commander and Feng Chih-an one of its divisional commanders. 3.The Kuomintang government promulgated the so-called "Emergency Decree for Dealing with Actions Endangering the Republic"on January 31,1931,using the trumped-up charge of "endangering the Republic"to persecute and slaughter patriots and revolutionaries.This decree imposed extremely brutal measures of persecution. 4."Press Censorship Regulations"was another name for the "General Measures for Press Censorship"issued by the Kuomintang government in August 1934 to stifle the voice of the people. They laid down that"all news copy must be submitted to censorship". 5.See "The Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party in the Period of Resistance to Japan",Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung,Eng.ed.,Foreign Languages Press,Peking,1965,Vol.I,p.,67. 6.Ah Q is the leading character in The True Story of Ah the famous work by the great Chinese writer Lu Hsun.Ah Q typifies all those who compensate themselves for their failures and setbacks in real life by regarding them as moral or spiritual victories. Transcription by the Maoist Documentation Project. HTML revised 2004 by Marxists.org SSelected Works of Mao Tse-tung FOR THE MOBILIZATION OF ALL THE NATION'S FORCES FOR VICTORY IN THE WAR OF RESISTANCE August 25,1937 [This was an outline for propaganda and agitation written by Comrade Mao Tse-tung in August 1937 for the propaganda organs of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.It was approved by the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee at Lochuan, northern Shensi.] A.The Lukouchiao Incident of July 7 marked the beginning of the Japanese imperialist all-out
2. The 28th Army, which was originally part of the Kuomintang's Northwestern Army under Feng Yu-hsiang, was then stationed in Hopei and Chahar Provinces. Sung Cheh-yuan was its commander and Feng Chih-an one of its divisional commanders. 3. The Kuomintang government promulgated the so-called "Emergency Decree for Dealing with Actions Endangering the Republic" on January 31, 1931, using the trumped-up charge of "endangering the Republic" to persecute and slaughter patriots and revolutionaries. This decree imposed extremely brutal measures of persecution. 4. "Press Censorship Regulations" was another name for the "General Measures for Press Censorship" issued by the Kuomintang government in August 1934 to stifle the voice of the people. They laid down that "all news copy must be submitted to censorship". 5. See "The Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party in the Period of Resistance to Japan", Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung,Eng. ed., Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1965, Vol. I, p. ,67. 6. Ah Q is the leading character in The True Story of Ah Q, the famous work by the great Chinese writer Lu Hsun. Ah Q typifies all those who compensate themselves for their failures and setbacks in real life by regarding them as moral or spiritual victories. Transcription by the Maoist Documentation Project. HTML revised 2004 by Marxists.org SSelected Works of Mao Tse-tung FOR THE MOBILIZATION OF ALL THE NATION'S FORCES FOR VICTORY IN THE WAR OF RESISTANCE August 25, 1937 [This was an outline for propaganda and agitation written by Comrade Mao Tse-tung in August 1937 for the propaganda organs of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. It was approved by the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee at Lochuan, northern Shensi.] A. The Lukouchiao Incident of July 7 marked the beginning of the Japanese imperialist all-out
invasion of China south of the Great Wall.The fight put up by the Chinese troops at Lukouchiao marked the beginning of China's nation-wide War of Resistance.The ceaseless Japanese attacks, the people's resolute struggle,the national bourgeoisie's tendency towards resistance,the Communist Party's vigorous advocacy and firm application of a national united front policy and the nation-wide support this policy has won-all these have compelled the Chinese authorities to begin changing their policy of nonresistance,as pursued ever since the September 18th Incident of 1931, to a policy of resistance since the Lukouchiao Incident,and have caused the Chinese revolution to develop beyond the stage reached after the December 9th Movement,[1]i.e.,the stage of ending the civil war and preparing for resistance,into the stage of actual resistance.The initial changes in the Kuomintang's policy with the Sian Incidentand the Third Plenary Session of its Central Executive Committee as their starting point,Mr.Chiang Kai-shek's Lushan statement of July on the question of resistance to Japan,and many of his measures of national defence,all deserve commendation.The troops at the front,whether the land and air forces or the local armed units, have all fought courageously and demonstrated the heroic spirit of the Chinese nation.In the name of the national revolution,the Chinese Communist Party ardently salutes our patriotic troops and fellow-countrymen throughout China. B.But on the other hand,even after the Lukouchiao Incident of July 7,the Kuomintang authorities are continuing to pursue the wrong policy they have pursued ever since the September 18th Incident, making compromises and concessions,[2]suppressing the zeal of the patriotic troops and clamping down on the patriotic people's national salvation movement.There is no doubt that, having seized Peiping and Tientsin,Japanese imperialism will press ahead with its policy of large- scale offensives,take the second and third steps in its premeditated war plan and launch fierce attacks on the whole of northern China and other areas,relying on its own brute military strength while at the same time drawing support from German and Italian imperialism and exploiting the vacillations of British imperialism and the estrangement of the Kuomintang from the broad masses of the working people.The flames of war are already raging in Chahar and in Shanghai.To save our motherland,to resist the attacks of the powerful invaders,to defend northern China and the seacoast and recover Peiping,Tientsin and northeastern China,the Kuomintang authorities and the whole people must thoroughly learn the lesson of the loss of northeastern China,Peiping and Tientsin,learn and take warning from the fall of Abyssinia,learn from the Soviet Union's past victories over its foreign enemies,[3 learn from Spain's present experience in successfully defending Madrid,4]and firmly unite to fight to the end in defence of the motherland.Henceforth the task is:"Mobilize all the nation's forces for victory in the War of Resistance",and the key to its accomplishment is a complete and thorough change in Kuomintang policy.The step forward taken by the Kuomintang on the question of resistance is to be commended;it is what the Chinese Communist Party and the people of the whole country have for years been hoping for,and we welcome it.But the Kuomintang has not changed its policies on such matters as the mobilization of the masses and the introduction of political reforms.It is still basically unwilling to lift the ban on the people's anti-Japanese movement or make fundamental changes in the government apparatus,it still has no policy for improving the people's livelihood,and is still not sufficiently sincere in its co- operation with the Communist Party.If,at this critical juncture of life or death for our nation,the Kuomintang continues in the same old groove and does not quickly change its policy,it will bring disaster to the War of Resistance.Some Kuomintang members say,"Let political reforms be
invasion of China south of the Great Wall. The fight put up by the Chinese troops at Lukouchiao marked the beginning of China's nation-wide War of Resistance. The ceaseless Japanese attacks, the people's resolute struggle, the national bourgeoisie's tendency towards resistance, the Communist Party's vigorous advocacy and firm application of a national united front policy and the nation-wide support this policy has won-all these have compelled the Chinese authorities to begin changing their policy of nonresistance, as pursued ever since the September 18th Incident of 1931, to a policy of resistance since the Lukouchiao Incident, and have caused the Chinese revolution to develop beyond the stage reached after the December 9th Movement, [1] i.e., the stage of ending the civil war and preparing for resistance, into the stage of actual resistance. The initial changes in the Kuomintang's policy with the Sian Incidentand the Third Plenary Session of its Central Executive Committee as their starting point, Mr. Chiang Kai-shek's Lushan statement of July on the question of resistance to Japan, and many of his measures of national defence, all deserve commendation. The troops at the front, whether the land and air forces or the local armed units, have all fought courageously and demonstrated the heroic spirit of the Chinese nation. In the name of the national revolution, the Chinese Communist Party ardently salutes our patriotic troops and fellow-countrymen throughout China. B. But on the other hand, even after the Lukouchiao Incident of July 7, the Kuomintang authorities are continuing to pursue the wrong policy they have pursued ever since the September 18th Incident, making compromises and concessions, [2] suppressing the zeal of the patriotic troops and clamping down on the patriotic people's national salvation movement. There is no doubt that, having seized Peiping and Tientsin, Japanese imperialism will press ahead with its policy of largescale offensives, take the second and third steps in its premeditated war plan and launch fierce attacks on the whole of northern China and other areas, relying on its own brute military strength while at the same time drawing support from German and Italian imperialism and exploiting the vacillations of British imperialism and the estrangement of the Kuomintang from the broad masses of the working people. The flames of war are already raging in Chahar and in Shanghai. To save our motherland, to resist the attacks of the powerful invaders, to defend northern China and the seacoast and recover Peiping, Tientsin and northeastern China, the Kuomintang authorities and the whole people must thoroughly learn the lesson of the loss of northeastern China, Peiping and Tientsin, learn and take warning from the fall of Abyssinia, learn from the Soviet Union's past victories over its foreign enemies, [3] learn from Spain's present experience in successfully defending Madrid, [4] and firmly unite to fight to the end in defence of the motherland. Henceforth the task is: "Mobilize all the nation's forces for victory in the War of Resistance", and the key to its accomplishment is a complete and thorough change in Kuomintang policy. The step forward taken by the Kuomintang on the question of resistance is to be commended; it is what the Chinese Communist Party and the people of the whole country have for years been hoping for, and we welcome it. But the Kuomintang has not changed its policies on such matters as the mobilization of the masses and the introduction of political reforms. It is still basically unwilling to lift the ban on the people's anti-Japanese movement or make fundamental changes in the government apparatus, it still has no policy for improving the people's livelihood, and is still not sufficiently sincere in its cooperation with the Communist Party. If, at this critical juncture of life or death for our nation, the Kuomintang continues in the same old groove and does not quickly change its policy, it will bring disaster to the War of Resistance. Some Kuomintang members say, "Let political reforms be
instituted after victory."They think the Japanese aggressors can be defeated by the government's efforts alone,but they are wrong.A few battles may be won in a war of resistance fought by the government alone,but it will be impossible to defeat the Japanese aggressors thoroughly.This can be done only by a war of total resistance by the whole nation.Such a war,however,requires a complete and drastic change in Kuomintang policy and the joint efforts of the whole nation from top to bottom to carry out a thoroughgoing programme of resistance to Japan,that is,a national salvation programme formulated in the spirit of the revolutionary Three People's Principles and the Three Great Policies I5]drawn up personally by Dr.Sun Yat-sen during the Best period of Kuomintang Communist co-operation. C.In all earnestness the Chinese Communist Party proposes to the Kuomintang,to the people of the whole country,to all political parties and groups,to people in all walks of life and to all the armed forces a Ten-Point National Salvation Programme for the purpose of completely defeating the Japanese aggressors.It firmly believes that only by carrying out this programme fully,sincerely and resolutely will it be possible to defend the motherland and defeat the Japanese aggressors. Otherwise,the responsibility will fall on those who procrastinate and allow the situation to deteriorate;once the country's doom is sealed,it will be too late for regrets and lamentations.The ten points are as follows: 1.Overthrow Japanese imperialism. Sever diplomatic relations with Japan,expel Japanese officials,arrest Japanese agents,confiscate Japanese property in China,repudiate debts to Japan,abrogate treaties signed with Japan and take back all Japanese Concessions. Fight to the finish in defence of northern China and the seacoast. Fight to the finish for the recovery of Peiping,Tientsin and northeastern China. Drive the Japanese imperialists out of China. Oppose all vacillation and compromise. 2.Mobilize the military strength of the whole nation. Mobilize all land,sea and air forces for a nation-wide war of resistance Oppose a passive,purely defensive strategy and adopt an active,independent strategy. Set up a permanent council of national defence to deliberate and decide on national defence plans and strategy. Arm the people and develop anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare in co-ordination with the operations of the main forces. Reform the political work in the armed forces to achieve unity between officers and men
instituted after victory." They think the Japanese aggressors can be defeated by the government's efforts alone, but they are wrong. A few battles may be won in a war of resistance fought by the government alone, but it will be impossible to defeat the Japanese aggressors thoroughly. This can be done only by a war of total resistance by the whole nation. Such a war, however, requires a complete and drastic change in Kuomintang policy and the joint efforts of the whole nation from top to bottom to carry out a thoroughgoing programme of resistance to Japan, that is, a national salvation programme formulated in the spirit of the revolutionary Three People's Principles and the Three Great Policies [5] drawn up personally by Dr. Sun Yat-sen during the Best period of Kuomintang Communist co-operation. C. In all earnestness the Chinese Communist Party proposes to the Kuomintang, to the people of the whole country, to all political parties and groups, to people in all walks of life and to all the armed forces a Ten-Point National Salvation Programme for the purpose of completely defeating the Japanese aggressors. It firmly believes that only by carrying out this programme fully, sincerely and resolutely will it be possible to defend the motherland and defeat the Japanese aggressors. Otherwise, the responsibility will fall on those who procrastinate and allow the situation to deteriorate; once the country's doom is sealed, it will be too late for regrets and lamentations. The ten points are as follows: 1. Overthrow Japanese imperialism. Sever diplomatic relations with Japan, expel Japanese officials, arrest Japanese agents, confiscate Japanese property in China, repudiate debts to Japan, abrogate treaties signed with Japan and take back all Japanese Concessions. Fight to the finish in defence of northern China and the seacoast. Fight to the finish for the recovery of Peiping, Tientsin and northeastern China. Drive the Japanese imperialists out of China. Oppose all vacillation and compromise. 2. Mobilize the military strength of the whole nation. Mobilize all land, sea and air forces for a nation-wide war of resistance. Oppose a passive, purely defensive strategy and adopt an active, independent strategy. Set up a permanent council of national defence to deliberate and decide on national defence plans and strategy. Arm the people and develop anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare in co-ordination with the operations of the main forces. Reform the political work in the armed forces to achieve unity between officers and men