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Yong wrote that <strong>the</strong> MCP w<strong>as</strong> founded between early to mid-April (referred to earlier). But he also<br />
said that “After <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>auguration conference of <strong>the</strong> MCP had ended, he [Ch’en Shao-chang]<br />
followed on to chair <strong>the</strong> first representative conference of <strong>the</strong> MGLU <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter part of April<br />
1930” (emph<strong>as</strong>is added). 26 This clearly suggests that <strong>the</strong> MGLU’s <strong>in</strong>auguration conference began<br />
immediately after <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>auguration conference of <strong>the</strong> MCP ended on <strong>the</strong> same day. Thus, here Yong<br />
seemed to have claimed that <strong>the</strong> MCP had been founded <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter part of April.<br />
What may be deduced from <strong>the</strong> above discussion? <strong>The</strong> contemporary <strong>Party</strong> records clearly and<br />
decisively showed that 8 leaders were arrested on 29 April and <strong>the</strong> Inaugural Congress w<strong>as</strong> held<br />
ei<strong>the</strong>r prior to 1 May or on 21 May. Very likely, <strong>the</strong>refore, <strong>the</strong> Congress w<strong>as</strong> scheduled to be held<br />
<strong>in</strong> late April but it w<strong>as</strong> postponed to 21 May for re<strong>as</strong>ons of security. As both conferences of <strong>the</strong><br />
MCP and <strong>the</strong> MGLU were sequentially held on <strong>the</strong> same day, its date could be 22- 23 April for <strong>the</strong><br />
MCP and 23 April for <strong>the</strong> MGLU (see Belogurova’s argument below). Such prom<strong>in</strong>ent leaders <strong>as</strong><br />
Lei and Wu Ch<strong>in</strong>g, who were to be arrested on 29 April, might have been merely tentatively<br />
elected <strong>as</strong> CC members. Unusual description of <strong>the</strong> CC of <strong>the</strong> MCP’s letter dated 1 June; “not<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g members of <strong>the</strong> CC” might probably suggest that many of <strong>the</strong>m were not present at this<br />
Inaugural Conference because <strong>the</strong>y had been arrested earlier on 29 April (emph<strong>as</strong>is added).<br />
Nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>The</strong> Straits Times nor <strong>The</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore Free Press referred to <strong>the</strong> party-posts of <strong>the</strong> arrested<br />
MCP leaders. It might possibly mean that <strong>the</strong> MCP had not elected such top leaders <strong>as</strong> secretary<br />
and head of organization yet at that time. Hence, <strong>the</strong> congress of April might be a provisional or<br />
preparatory one. Besides that, <strong>the</strong> “Notice!” w<strong>as</strong> dated 1 May 1930. It might mean that <strong>the</strong> tentative<br />
CC of <strong>the</strong> MCP had already drafted <strong>the</strong> “Notice” before 1 May.<br />
As shown above, Yong h<strong>as</strong> suggested that <strong>the</strong> first representatives’ conference of <strong>the</strong> MGLU w<strong>as</strong><br />
held <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter part of April 1930, after <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>augural conference of <strong>the</strong> MCP. 27 But <strong>the</strong> letter sent<br />
to <strong>the</strong> “English Komparty” dist<strong>in</strong>guished between two conferences – a “Conf.” on 21 May, and a<br />
“<strong>Party</strong> conference” held before <strong>the</strong> MGLU conference. Hence, would not “Conf.” (with a capital C)<br />
mean <strong>the</strong> Inaugural Congress and “<strong>Party</strong> conference” (with <strong>the</strong> small c) a meet<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Party</strong> CC?<br />
O<strong>the</strong>rwise, would <strong>the</strong> conference held <strong>in</strong> late April have been <strong>the</strong> Third Representatives’ Congress<br />
while <strong>the</strong> one held on 21 May w<strong>as</strong> <strong>the</strong> First Representatives’ Congress of <strong>the</strong> MCP?<br />
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