Being squeezed out of exile by Jiang, Li Zongren needs to clarify these issues in order to return to China

2020/07/1511:00:15 history 2972

Being squeezed out of exile by Jiang, Li Zongren needs to clarify these issues in order to return to China - DayDayNews

On July 27, 1965, Chairman Mao received Li Zongren (first from the right) and his wife (second from the left) and Cheng Siyuan (first from the left)

After the three battles of Liaoshen, Huaihai and Pingjin , 国民党 The main force of the army was basically eliminated. On January 21, 1949, when the Kuomintang regime was in a precarious situation, 蒋介石 announced that it would go down the wild. The next day, Lee Zongren, then vice president of the Nationalist Government, became acting president.

After the Battle of Crossing the River, the Kuomintang had no military basis to continue to rule on the mainland. Li Zongren also knew Chiang Kai-shek's personality well, and was unwilling to go to Taiwan with him. So at the end of the year, he left for the United States and began a life in exile in a foreign country for more than ten years.

In March 1950, Chiang Kai-shek resumed his "President" position in Taiwan. In March 1954, he formally dismissed 李宗仁 as the "Vice President". Li Zongren has since become a commoner.

The loneliness and loneliness of living abroad gave Li Zongren the idea of ​​returning home. He expressed this idea to his former secretary, Cheng Siyuan, who is now living in Hong Kong, and hoped that he would listen to the opinions of the CCP.

In May 1955, when Cheng Siyuan visited Beijing with the delegation of Hong Kong and Macau, he talked to Li Kenong, the then Deputy Foreign Minister, about Li Zongren's situation abroad and his plan to return to China. Li Kenong immediately reported to Zhou Enlai. However, considering the Sino-US relations and the Taiwan issue at the time, the Central Committee believed that the issue of Li Zongren's return to China should not be rushed and should be handled with caution.

In order to express the sincerity of returning to China, in August 1955, Li Zongren published "Proposals on the Taiwan Issue", proposing that Taiwan should negotiate with the mainland and the Chinese should resolve their own family affairs. This move was highly appraised by Mao Zedong and other leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. In 1959, Li Zongren entrusted Cheng Siyuan to donate his collection of calligraphy and painting to the People's Republic of China, once again expressing his desire to return to China.

Although Li Zongren’s return to China did not take place immediately, it has been steadily advancing. From April 1956 to June 1965, Zhou Enlai had five times received Cheng Siyuan, who was entrusted by Li Zongren to Beijing to inquire about the news, and held consultations on Li Zongren's return to China.

Mao Zedong also attached great importance to Li Zongren's return to China and issued instructions three times.

On February 3, 1965, Mao Zedong received a report from the Investigation Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China that Li Zongren’s fellow Guilin fellow Liao Xingjian talked about Li Zongren’s dynamics in Hong Kong.

mentioned: Cheng Siyuan reported on January 25 that Liao Xingjian told him in Hong Kong that Li Zongren was going to return to the motherland from the United States via Hong Kong. Li Wei expressed his determination to leave the United States. He has advertised to sell his New Jersey property and is scheduled to go to Europe in April and May. He regretted his letter to the New York Herald Tribune last year, but regretted that he could not remedy it. Now returning home is the only feasible way for Li. Can you give directions first?

Mao Zedong wrote the comment after reading: "Prime Minister: I should welcome Li Zongren back to China. Last year, he submitted a report to the American newspaper. It has nothing to do with the overall situation and no criticism, because he has already admitted his mistake."

The "submission of letters" and the "submission to the US Newspaper" mentioned in Mao Zedong's criticism are the same thing.

In November 1963, the conditions for Li Zongren's return to China were basically ripe, but something happened not long after that caused the matter to stir again. In February 1964, Li Zongren published an article on China's foreign policy in the "New York Herald Tribune" of the United States, which caused a negative response in the international community.

This violates the "four nos" principle that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Li Zongren negotiated at the beginning (no involvement in Sino-US relations, no involvement in US-Taiwan relations, no involvement in relations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, no involvement in third forces-author's note). In view of this, the CPC Central Committee decided to postpone Li Zongren's return to China. Later, Li Zongren realized his mistake and regretted it, and asked Cheng Siyuan to apologize to the CCP.

After Mao Zedong gave the approval for Li Zongren's return to China, Zhou Enlai immediately started deployment. On June 13, 1965, Li Zongren left the United States for Europe to return home. On June 19th, Cheng Siyuan was entrusted by Zhou Enlai to fly to Switzerland, where he escorted Li Zongren back home..

On July 9, the Investigation Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China formed a request for opinions on Li Zongren’s return to China. It mentioned that Cheng Siyuan arrived in Switzerland on June 28 and conveyed to Li Zongren the various sections discussed in Beijing. The domestic suggested that for Li Zongren's safety, he should not hold a press conference in Europe before returning home. A written statement can be considered after returning home. Li Zongren agreed with this opinion and said that he would return to China via Pakistan with his wife 郭德洁 and Cheng Siyuan on July 20.

Regarding Li Zongren’s statement, the request also proposed two plans: the first plan, Li Zongren does not have to make a statement as soon as he enters the country, and he will make a statement after returning to the country to discuss; the second plan, agree to be at the airport as soon as he enters the country Make a written statement and meet with reporters, but the statement should be negotiated with the country in advance. We tend to adopt the first plan.

On July 12, Mao Zedong stated in the report: "The Prime Minister: It seems that the second plan is better, and the draft is negotiated beforehand, and there is no harm. Please consider again."

received Mao Zedong’s approval On the same day, Zhou Enlai convened a meeting of Li Zongren’s old and old friends in the Great Hall of the People, explaining to them Li Zongren’s voluntary return to China and his policies, and agreed on welcoming Li Zongren. The sincerity and generosity of the CPC Central Committee moved everyone present.

On July 13, Li Zongren and his party took off from Switzerland to Pakistan. It landed smoothly at Karachi Airport in the early morning of the 14th. After receiving Li Zongren and his party from the embassy, ​​Ding Guoyu, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, immediately called the Investigation Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to ask Li Zongren about the drafting of the statement to be issued after arriving in Beijing and the holding of Chinese and foreign press conferences.

On July 15, Ding Guoyu from the Investigation Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out: After Li returned to China, he should make a brief statement and ask Li to draft the draft; if Li thinks he needs to arrive in Shanghai to discuss the draft, he can also hold a press conference after he returns. , The scope of the issue is to be discussed after arriving in Beijing.

On this day, Zhou Enlai will accompany Ugandan Prime Minister Obote to Shanghai. Mao Zedong hopes that he can stay for a few more days to meet Li Zongren at the airport. Therefore, when reviewing the telegram, Mao Zedong wrote his remarks: "Prime Minister: Do you want to stay in Shanghai for a few more days, discuss the statement with Li, and return to Beijing on the same plane. When Li is back, you should be welcomed at the airport."

After writing, he added: "You can live in Shanghai for a few days, after discussing a brief statement, come to Beijing."

On July 18, Li Zongren finally returned to his motherland, Zhou Enlai , Chen Yi, Ye Jianying and others went to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to greet Li Zongren and his party.

That night, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China hosted a banquet for Li Zongren and his party at the Shanghai Cultural Club. On the second day, Zhou Enlai had a long talk with Li Zongren, explaining to him the policies and requirements of the central authorities regarding his return to China.

Being squeezed out of exile by Jiang, Li Zongren needs to clarify these issues in order to return to China - DayDayNews

On July 20, 1965, Zhou Enlai and others accompanied Li Zongren and his wife out of Beijing Airport. From left: Peng Zhen, He Long, Li Zongren, Zhou Enlai, Guo Dejie, Guo Moruo

On July 20, 1965, 74-year-old Li Zongren flew to Beijing and returned to the capital Beijing, which had been away for 16 years. Zhou Enlai arranged a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport. More than 100 people including party and state leaders, leaders of various democratic parties, non-party democrats, and former subordinates of Li Zongren went to the airport to greet him.

In the lobby of Beijing airport, Li Zongren read out his return to the country, fully affirming the great achievements of the new China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and expressing his innocent heart to serve the country after returning to China.

said:

"I hope to follow the people of our country, participate in socialist construction, and want to contribute to all related patriotic and anti-imperialist causes. In the future, the day when I swear my life is to serve the motherland. Years, I have this heart, and the days can be shown."

"Zongren is an old man and has no idea about personal political outlets. In the future, I only wish to fulfill the responsibilities of the people as a member of the people and contribute to the cause of revolution in the motherland. To be able to live forever in the motherland, there is enough wish and nothing else.”

also firmly stated that “Taiwan Province is China’s inalienable sacred territory” and urged the Kuomintang who stayed in Taiwan to return to the embrace of the motherland for completion. The ultimate reunification of the motherland makes due contributions.

July 2On the 7th, Mao Zedong met Li Zongren and his wife and Cheng Siyuan in Zhongnanhai. Li Zongren said in his conversation that he was happy for the strength of the motherland. Mao Zedong said: "The motherland is stronger than in the past, but it is not very strong. We will have to build at least 20 or 30 years before we can truly become stronger." Take a look around the country.

Being squeezed out of exile by Jiang, Li Zongren needs to clarify these issues in order to return to China - DayDayNews

On August 6, 1965, the CPPCC National Committee held a tea party to welcome Li Zongren and his wife and Cheng Siyuan. The picture shows Li Zongren (on the right) thanking him at the tea party

The trip to the northeast was the first big event Li Zongren carried out after returning to China. He visited Harbin, Qiqihar and Daqing oil fields, visited the Songhua River, and went to Changchun No. 1 Automobile Manufacturing Plant and factories, mines and schools in cities such as Fushun, Anshan, and Luda.

Li Zongren received warm reception and proper arrangements wherever he went. He once said with emotion: "It is better to hear a hundred. The achievements of New China far exceed my imagination. Facts have proved that socialism The system is much superior to the capitalist system.”

References:

[1] Edited by the Literature Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; Pang Xianzhi, Editor-in-Chief Feng Hui; Chen Jin, Li Jie, Xiong Huayuan, Wu Zhengyu, Zhang Suhua Deputy Chief Editor. Chronicles of Mao Zedong 1949-1976 Vol. 5[M]. Beijing: Central Literature Publishing House, 2013.12.

[2] Edited by the Literature Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Chronicles of Zhou Enlai 1949-1976 1[M]. Beijing: Central Literature Publishing House, 2007.09.

[3] Selected Works of Literature and History Volume 40[M]. Beijing: China Literature and History Publishing House, 1990.

Picture from People’s Daily Online, WeChat public account "China Political Consultative Conference Literature and History Museum "


author: Zeng Jun, the central Party literature Research Institute and blame

: Kobayashi

web series: Hou Jieying

Producer: Fang Danmin

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