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CHAPTER VI<br />
THE MCP AND THE COMINTERN FROM 1935 TO 1939<br />
I 1935<br />
1. A Russian-language document, dated 27 July 1935, is summarized below:<br />
Politcomissar held from 20 January 1931 proposed to approve <strong>the</strong> MCP <strong>as</strong> its branch at <strong>the</strong> 7th<br />
Congress of <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern. 1<br />
For <strong>the</strong> p<strong>as</strong>t one and a half years, this organization lost contact with <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern and <strong>the</strong> CCP<br />
which w<strong>as</strong> led by <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern. We have not been <strong>in</strong>formed of its activities and organizations.<br />
<strong>The</strong>refore, <strong>the</strong> ES refra<strong>in</strong>s from approv<strong>in</strong>g its application for affiliat<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern <strong>as</strong> a<br />
section. 2<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r loss of contact w<strong>as</strong> affirmed by <strong>the</strong> Special Branch <strong>in</strong> 1935. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Cheah, <strong>the</strong> SB<br />
reported that throughout 1935, <strong>the</strong> MCP lost contact with <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern apparatus <strong>in</strong> Shanghai and<br />
consequently failed to receive any subsidy and <strong>in</strong>structions. 3<br />
In fact, <strong>as</strong> shown <strong>in</strong> Table 6, though <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern received three reports dated March 1934 from<br />
<strong>the</strong> MCP, three o<strong>the</strong>r letters dated August 1934 did not reach it. In 1935 none.<br />
<strong>The</strong> above Russian-language document clearly shows that <strong>the</strong> MCP had not obta<strong>in</strong>ed official<br />
affiliation with <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern. Kurihara also states that <strong>the</strong> MCP’s membership w<strong>as</strong> not approved<br />
right to <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern. 4 This crucial piece of <strong>in</strong>formation stands at odds with previous<br />
views on this matter. Hanrahan had cited <strong>the</strong> Constitution issued by <strong>the</strong> Sixth Plenary Session of<br />
<strong>the</strong> CC of <strong>the</strong> MCP on 6 March 1934. In that Constitution, Article 1 declared that, “<strong>The</strong> MCP is an<br />
affiliate of <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern” (emph<strong>as</strong>is added). 5 In fact, <strong>as</strong> will be clarified later, <strong>the</strong> 6th Enlarged<br />
Plenum of <strong>the</strong> CC of <strong>the</strong> MCP w<strong>as</strong> held <strong>in</strong> April 1939. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> MCP’s official document,<br />
<strong>the</strong> first clause of <strong>the</strong> 1939 Constitution declared that, “<strong>The</strong> MCP is a preparatory branch ( 预 备 支<br />
部 ) of <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern” (emph<strong>as</strong>is added). 6 However, ano<strong>the</strong>r MCP document issued <strong>in</strong> 1946, Nan<br />
Dao Zhi Chun, stated that, “<strong>The</strong> MCP is a branch of <strong>the</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>tern.” 7<br />
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