1 On May 31, 20 provinces and cities across the country, more than 70 representatives from more than 60 national rescue groups, held a meeting in Shanghai, and established National Federation of Salvation of All Circles . The conference discussed and passed important documents such as the "Declaration on the Founding Conference of the National Federation of Salvation of the People's Circles" and the "Preliminary Political Program for Resisting Japan and Saving the Country", and elected 14 people including Shen Junru, Zhang Naiqi, Li Gongpu, Shi Liang, Sha Qianli, and Wang Zaoshi as Standing Committee members, and decided to establish "National Rescue Information" as the organization's official newspaper. The main political propositions of the National Saving Council are: First, stop all civil wars, establish a nationwide unified anti-enemy regime, unite and fight against the enemy together; Second, require the Kuomintang to give up one-party dictatorship, implement democratic politics, open up the people's movement, hold joint meetings of various parties, and establish a unified national saving regime; Third, abolish harsh and miscellaneous taxes, increase customs import tax, boycott Japanese goods, and protect the development of national industry and commerce. Implement "the ploughing has its own land" in rural areas; fourth, change the compromise diplomacy, unite the world's anti-Japanese and anti-war forces, and jointly deal with Japanese imperialism. The establishment of the National Salvation Congress and its propositions have been highly praised by the Communist Party of China. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong wrote a letter to Zhang Naiqi, Tao Xingzhi, , Zou Taofen, and Shen Junru, saying that "Agree with your declaration program and requirements, and sincerely willing to cooperate with you." After the establishment of the National Congress of National Rescue, he did a lot of fruitful work and became a banner of the anti-Japanese movement in the Kuomintang-ruled areas on the eve of the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, but it also caused panic among the Kuomintang government.
111 On November 23, 2019, the Nanjing Kuomintang government arrested Shen Junru, Zhang Naiqi, Zou Taofen, Li Gongpu, Sha Qianli, Shi Liang, Wang Zaoshi and other leaders of the National Rescue Congress (known in history as the "Seven Gentlemen Incident") in Shanghai for the crime of "endangering the Republic of China".
This incident caused shock and indignation from people from all walks of life across the country, and carried out a massive rescue activity. The National Rescue Congress issued a declaration and a letter to the people of the country, announcing that it would not give up the idea of fighting against the enemy and saving the nation because of the arrest of the leader, but would continue to fight. Soong Ching-ling published the "Statement for the Arrest of Shen Junru and others", and raised a strong protest against the Kuomintang authorities. Yu Youren , Feng Yuxiang , More than 20 people including Li Liejun jointly called Chiang Kai-shek , demanding to "sovereign" the matter. Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi also called the Nanjing government, requesting the unconditional release of the "Seven Gentlemen". Zhang Xueliang met Chiang Kai-shek and asked him angrily: What is the difference between treating the people's patriotic movement so cruelly and Zhang Zongchang ? This incident not only caused a political uproar in China, but also caused a great response internationally. At that time, 16 internationally renowned people including the famous American philosopher John Dewey and physicist Einstein also jointly called Chiang Kai-shek, saying that he was "very uneasy."
On April 12, 1937, the Communist Party of China issued the "Declaration on Prosecuting Shen and Zhang Zhushi" and praised Shen Junru and others for "with a frank mind, warm emotions, and open and honest attitude, and advocated national unity, joint efforts to fight against Japan, together. This is actually a model of the responsibility and gloriousness of our Chinese men and women, and is respected by China and the people of the world. "Condemn the Kuomintang for creating "patriotism and guilty injustice", demanding the release of all political prisoners such as the "Seven Gentlemen", and carrying out rescue work from multiple parties. In June, 16 people including Soong Ching Ling, He Xiangning, Hu Yuzhi and launched the "Saving the Country and going to prison" campaign, proposing to submit the "patriotic crime" with the "Seven Gentlemen", which received responses from people from all walks of life across the country and signed and participated. On July 5, Soong Ching Ling was sick and brought her own luggage with other initiators, and went to the Suzhou High Court to apply for jail.With the joint support of the Communist Party of China and the people of the whole country, the Kuomintang authorities had to admit that "the purpose of saving the country is to save the country is of course not guilty." After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the "Seven Gentlemen" were finally released from prison.
The movement of the Communist Party of China and the National Rescue Association to rescue the "Seven Gentlemen" promoted the rise of the national anti-Japanese climax, strengthened the strength of the anti-Japanese national united front, and played a great role in forcing the Kuomintang Chiang Kai-shek government to turn against Japan.
