Mao: The Unknown Story

5 –176 Mao instructed his negotiator: Mao cable, 20 Jan. 1936, in Yang Kuisong 1995, p. 38. Mao’s sons: Ren & Yu, pp. 4–8; Liu Yitao, pp. 52–5; interview with a member of Mao’s family, 23 Oct. 1995.

6 –177 Stalin personally involved: according to Boris Ponomaryov, top Soviet official involved in handling Mao’s sons (interview in Russia, June 1995); “Moskvin” (Trilisser) to Stalin, 29 May 1936, in Yang Kuisong 1995, p. 162. “like Outer Mongolia”: in Yang Kuisong 1995, pp. 89. First telegram: Dallin & Firsov, p. 99; Yang Kuisong 1995, pp. 101–3; for date, cf. Shi Jixin, pp. 48–9; Mirovitskaya 1975, p. 104. Sent to Stalin: Dallin & Firsov, p. 96 (Dimitrov to Stalin, early July 1936).

7 15 Aug. milestone order: Dallin & Firsov, pp. 102, 104–5. Talks about United Front: Huang Xiurong, pp. 79–82, 130. Chiang initiated rapprochement: DVP vol. 18 (1935), pp. 599, 602. Young Marshal still misled: AVPRF, 0100/20/184/11, pp. 108–9 (Bogomolov report); Fan & Ding, pp. 220–5. Stalin endorsed a plan: Davies et al., pp. 351–2.

8 –178 Mao’s wish list; Comintern reply: in Yang Kuisong 1995, pp. 218–19; cf. Sheng, pp. 28–9; Dimitrov, 11 & 20 Sept., 6 Nov., 2 Dec. 1936; Mirovitskaya 1975, p. 104; MRTP vol. 5, pp. 360–1 (Mao cable, 19 Sept. 1936); Cherepanov 1982, p. 307. “going to prison”: Xu Xiangqian,p. 334.

9 Ho Lung talk, 2 Feb. 1961, ZZ2, pp. 657–8; Wen Yu, p. 102.

10 $550,000: Yang Kuisong 1995, p. 236; cf. Dimitrov, 2 Dec. 1936; Mirovitskaya 1975, p. 104 ($300,000 per month sent).

11 –180 Plan to kidnap Chiang: Li Youwen, in Yang Kuisong 1995, pp. 336–7. Gamble: to Sun Mingjiu and co, in Wu Zuzhang, p. 216. Telling Yeh, Yeh to Mao: Titov 1981, p. 143. Zhang Kuitang, p. 191; Yang Kuisong 1995, pp. 264–5. Titov: Titov 1981, p. 143.

12 180 “Work out a plan”: Dimitrov, 26 Nov. 1936. “come instantly”: Yang Kuisong 1995, p. 283. Pretending to Young Marshal: Mao cable, 10 Dec. 1936, in Central Archive 1997, p. 174. “good news in the morning”: Ye Zilong, p. 39.

CHAPTER 17 A National Player

1 “laughing like mad”: Zhang Guotao, vol. 3, p. 330 (E: Chang Kuo-tao, vol. 2, p. 480). First cables to Moscow: Zhang Xueliang, pp. 1124–5, 1133, 1149. “The best option”: in Zhang Xueliang, p. 1124. “carry out the final measure”: cable to Mao, 17 Dec. 1936, in Central Archive1997, p. 213.

2 –183 Asked for plane for Chou: two cables from Mao on 13 Dec. 1936, in Central Archive 1997, pp. 181, 182 (E: one in MRTP vol. 5, p. 540). “made arrangements with the Comintern”: MRTP vol. 5, p. 540 (13 Dec. 1936 cable). Pravda and Izvestia: in Zhang Xueliang, pp. 1138–9. No plane for Chou: Mao cables, 15, 16, 17 Dec. 1936, in Central Archive 1997, pp. 204, 211, 212 (E: 17 Dec. cable in MRTP vol. 5, p. 551). Sent his Boeing, Leonard: Leonard 1942, p. 99.

3 –184 Pretended he would: Chou cable to Mao, 17 Dec. 1936, in Central Archive 1997, p. 213. “Strike at the enemy’s head”: in Central Archive 1997, p. 202, cf. 189 (E: MRTP vol. 5, p. 550). “The enemy’s jugulars”: in Central Archive 1997, p. 212 (E: MRTP vol. 5, p. 551). H.H. Kung: Kung Hsiang-hsi, p. 83.

4 –185 Stalin was on the line: Dimitrov, 14 Dec. 1936; cf. Avreyski, p. 244. Dimitrov’s Chinese assistant: Krymov, p. 289. Artuzov: Damaskin, pp. 153–4 (photo of letter); Piatnitsky, p. 422; interview with Wang Dan-zhi, 21 June 1999. Dimitrov wrote Stalin: VKP vol. 4, pp. 1084–5 (letter, 14 Dec. 1936); cf. Dimitrov, 14 Dec. 1936; Dallin & Firsov, p. 106. Mao in cahoots with Japan?: Vaksberg, pp. 220ff; Piatnitsky, p. 134. Dimitrov stern message: VKP vol. 4, pp. 1085–6; Dimitrov, 16 Dec. 1936; Dallin & Firsov, pp. 107–8.