Chapter 30 Elected to be a member of Central Committee in 3rd Congress 1923

Journalist: “Did you attend the 3rd Congress Meeting of the Party?”

Mao: “Yes, I did. In early 1923, Chen Duxiu asked me to go to Shanghai to help him prepare for the ‘3rd Congress.’ Although Chen Duxiu and many others were opposed to the Moscow directive for the CCP to join the Kuomintang (KMT), it was difficult for Chen to resist when Ma Lin (Henk Sneevliet) came to China with instructions from the Comintern. After all, the CCP was operating with support from Soviet Russia. I had long believed that we had to be the horse’s head for Russia.

Soviet Russia also wanted to win over the Beijing government. At that time, Russia was striving to separate Outer Mongolia from China and make it part of its sphere of influence. The Beijing government was cautious and hostile toward this. Soviet Russia hoped to have someone close to them in power. However, the CCP was too small to accomplish much. Moscow had tested some warlords and placed particular hope in Wu Peifu. But Wu insisted on the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Outer Mongolia. Only Sun Yat-sen did not demand the withdrawal. The Soviet representative, Adolf Joffe, told Moscow: ‘Sun is fundamentally not opposed to our troops stationed in Kulun. In exchange, Sun Yat-sen wants Soviet Russia to help him establish an army to overthrow the Beijing government. For this, he not only agrees to let Soviet troops continue to occupy Outer Mongolia but also proposes that Soviet Russia advance into Xinjiang. Sun has requested that we send a division to seize Xinjiang, claiming that there are only four thousand Chinese soldiers there, making it easy to occupy. Sun even asked Soviet troops to advance all the way to Chengdu in Sichuan, to help him seize power.’

Joffe emphasized these points in his report to Lenin. He also mentioned that Sun Yat-sen occupied Guangdong Province in the south, making it convenient for Soviet Russia to transport weapons and equipment. In early 1923, the Politburo of the Soviet Communist Party made a resolution: ‘Fully support the Kuomintang. The funds will be provided by the Comintern.’ The resolution was signed by Stalin.”

Journalist: “Oh, so the Soviet Union successfully won over Sun Yat-sen. What about the Communist Party?”

Mao: “Stalin also hoped that the CCP could influence Sun Yat-sen from within the Kuomintang, so he ordered CCP members to join the KMT. Stalin said, ‘Moscow cannot openly issue orders. We will secretly do so through the Chinese Communist Party.’

I quickly joined the Kuomintang after arriving in Shanghai. My friend Cai Hesen didn’t agree with it. I didn’t believe that the Communist Party, with only one or two hundred members, could have any future relying solely on ideology. At the “3rd Congress”, I stated that the only possibility for China to achieve communism was if the Russians intervened. Henk Sneevliet, who chaired the conference, reported to Moscow, saying, ‘Mao believes that the only hope for China is Russian intervention. The revolution must be brought in by Russian troops from the north. Mao has foresight.’”

Journalist: “Oh, Henk Sneevliet praised your foresight. Did the CCP succeed with the help of the Russian army?”

Mao: “Yes. With the cooperation between the CCP and the Kuomintang and full support from Soviet Russia, including military assistance, I saw hope. It was the first time I had the opportunity to work for the Party. The Russian representative Ville (S.L. Ville, Deputy Consul in Shanghai) reported to Moscow, saying that I was a good comrade. Under Henk Sneevliet’s recommendation, I became the Secretary of the Central Bureau, assisting Chen Duxiu in handling daily work, managing documents, and taking minutes during meetings. The party’s correspondence was signed by Chen and me. I learned from Chen and signed my name as T.T. Mao in English. Chen and I focused on obtaining more money from Moscow because our work was expanding, and expenses were increasing.”

Journalist: “So, you became Chen Duxiu’s secretary like that?”

Mao: “Yes. The CCP’s 3rd Congress was held in Guangzhou in June 1923. There were 40 attendees, with 17 delegates having voting rights. They represented over 420 party members nationwide. The conference elected Chen Duxiu, Cai Hesen, Li Dazhao, Tan Pingshan, Wang Hebo, Mao Zedong, Zhu Shaolian, Xiang Ying, and Luo Zhanglong total 9 people as Central Committee members. Deng Pei, Zhang Lianguang, Xu Meikun, Li Hanjun, and Deng Zhongxia, these 5 people were chosen as alternate Central Committee members. Chen Duxiu, Cai Hesen, Mao Zedong, Luo Zhanglong, and Tan Pingshan formed the Central Bureau, with Chen Duxiu as the Chairman, Mao Zedong as the Secretary, and Luo Zhanglong as the accountant, responsible for daily work.

On the same day the congress concluded, the delegates gathered at the Huanghuagang Martyrs’ Cemetery, led by Qu Qiubai, and sang the ‘Internationale’ to conclude the event.

Zhang Guotao failed to be elected because he opposed joining the Kuomintang. Cai Hesen continued his role in propaganda, and I took over Zhang Guotao’s position in organizing. The ‘3rd Congress’ held in 1923 marked my first entry into the central decision-making body.”

Journalist: “Oh, Zhang Guotao failed to be elected due to his opposition to joining the Kuomintang, and you replaced him to oversee organization department?”

Mao: “Yes. In September 1923, the CCP Central Committee sent me back to Hunan to guide the establishment of Kuomintang organizations in the CCP Hunan region, led by Xia Xi and others. In my letter to the Minister of General Affairs of the Kuomintang, Peng Sumin, and the Deputy Minister, Lin Boqu, I said, ‘Rent houses to establish secret preparatory agencies and invite people who believe in the Three Principles of the People and have the ability to act to join the party.’ Under my guidance, the first Kuomintang branch was established in Changsha, followed by Changde and Hengyang establishing their respective branches.

In early October 1923, the Kuomintang Changsha branch was established. Subsequently, I set up Kuomintang divisions in Ningxiang and Anyuan. Based on this foundation, the Kuomintang Hunan Provincial Branch was established. My main focus was on the Kuomintang organization, and I rarely attended Communist Party meetings. This caused dissatisfaction from Deng Zhongxia and Cai Hesen, who said that I did not attach importance to the labor movement and the independent activities of the Communist Party, accusing me of being right-leaning.”

Journalist: “Wow, you’re really capable. You single-handedly established the Kuomintang Hunan Provincial Branch. It seems that you have a vision. Regardless of the party, as long as you can gather people under your control and get things done, you’ll go for it. The Kuomintang was easy to handle, so you focused on the Kuomintang?”

Mao: “That’s right.”