A Letter to Chiang Ching-Kuo 致蔣經(jīng)國信
廖承志
Liao Chengzhi
經(jīng)國吾弟：
Dear brother Ching-Kuo,
咫尺之隔，竟成海天之遙(1)。南京匆匆一晤，瞬逾三十六載。幼時同袍，蘇京把晤，往事歷歷在目(2)。惟長年未通音問，此誠憾事。近聞?wù)`和，深為懸念(3)。人過七旬，多有病痛，至盼善自珍攝。
Who would have expected that the short distance between us should be keeping us poles apart! It is now more than 36 years since our brief encounter in Nanjing. The days we spent together in childhood as well as later in the Soviet capital, however, are still as fresh as ever in my memory. But it’s a pity indeed that we haven’t heard from each other for so many years. Recently it filled me with much concern to learn of your indisposition. Men aged over seventy are liable to illness. I hope you will take good care of yourself
三年以來，我黨一再倡議貴我兩黨舉行談判(4)，同捐前嫌，共竟祖國統(tǒng)一大業(yè)。共竟祖國統(tǒng)一大業(yè)(5)。惟弟一再聲言“不接觸，不談判，不妥協(xié)”，余期期以為不可。世交深情，于公于私，理當進言(6)，敬希詮察。
For three years, we have repeatedly proposed bilateral talks between the two parties to let bygones be bygones and strive together for the great cause of national reunification. But you have time and again insisted upon having “no contact, no talks and no compromise”, which I truly think inadvisable. In view of the public and personal concerns as well as long-standing deep friendship between our two families, I feel duty-bound to offer you a word of advice for careful consideration.
祖國和平統(tǒng)一，乃千秋功業(yè)(7)，臺灣終必回歸祖國，早日解決對各方有利。臺灣同胞 可安居樂業(yè)，兩岸各族人民可解骨肉分離之痛，在臺諸前輩及大陸去臺人員 亦可各得其所，且有利于亞太地區(qū)局勢穩(wěn)定和世界和平。吾弟嘗以“計利當計天下利，求名應(yīng)求萬世名” (8)自勉，倘能于吾弟手中成此偉業(yè)(9)，必為舉國尊敬，世人推崇，功在國家，名留青史(10)。所謂“罪人”之說，實相悖謬。局促東隅，終非久計。明若吾弟，自當了然(11)。如遷延不決，或委之異日(12)，不僅徒生困擾，吾弟亦將難辭其咎(13)。再者，和平統(tǒng)一純屬內(nèi)政。外人巧言令色，意在圖我臺灣，此世人所共知者。當斷不斷，必受其亂(14)。愿弟慎思。
The peaceful reunification of the motherland will be a great achievement to go down in history. Taiwan is bound to be reunited eventually with the motherland. An early
settlement of the problem will be in the interests of all. The compatriots in Taiwan will be able to live in peace and happiness, the people of all nationalities on both sides of the Taiwan straits will be relieved of the pains of separation from their flesh and blood, and our senior folks in Taiwan and those formerly migrated there from the mainland will all be properly placed and provided for. And, moreover, it will contribute to the stability of Asia and the Pacific region as well as to world peace. You used to seek self-encouragement from the motto, “The interests to be considered should be the interests of all; the fame to be sought should be an everlasting fame.” If you should be instrumental in bringing about the cause of national reunification, you will certainly win esteem and praise nationwide and your meritorious service to the country will earn you a niche in the temple of fame. It is sheer absurdity to think yourself “guilty” for rendering such a service. After all, dragging out your existence in that tight eastern corner is by no means a permanent solution. This should be crystal clear to a man of your wisdom. Procrastination, hesitation or sleeping over the problem will only lead to adversity and you, my brother, will hardly be able to escape censure. Moreover, peaceful reunification is entirely an internal affair of China. As is known to all, outsiders who are talking glibly against it have designs on our Taiwan. To be irresolute when a prompt decision should be taken would only spell disaster. I, therefore, would like you to think this over carefully.
孫先生手創(chuàng)之中國國民黨，歷盡艱辛，無數(shù)先烈前仆后繼，終于*帝制，建立民國(15)。光輝業(yè)跡，已成定論。國共兩度合作，均對國家民族作出巨大貢獻。首次合作，孫先生領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，吾輩雖幼，亦知一二。再次合作，老先生主其事，吾輩身在其中，應(yīng)知梗概。事雖經(jīng)緯萬端，但縱觀全局，合則對國家有利，分則必傷民族元氣(16)。今日吾弟在臺主政，三次合作，大責難謝。雙方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，同窗摯友，彼此相知，談之更易(17)。所謂“投降”、“屈事”、“吃虧”、“上當”之說，實難茍同。評價歷史，展望未來，應(yīng)天下為公，以國家民族利益為準則(18)，何發(fā)黨私之論！至于“以三民主義統(tǒng)一中國”云云，識者皆以為太不現(xiàn)實，未免自欺欺人(19)。三民主義之真諦，吾輩深知，毋須爭辯。所謂臺灣“經(jīng)濟繁榮，社會民主，民生樂利”等等，在臺諸公，心中有數(shù)，亦毋庸贅言。試為貴黨計，如能依時順勢，負起歷史責任，毅然和談， 達成國家統(tǒng)一，則兩黨長期共存，互相監(jiān)督，共圖振興中華之大業(yè)。否則，偏安之局(20)，焉能自保。有識之士，慮已及此(21)。事關(guān)國民黨興亡絕續(xù)(22)，望弟再思。
After going through untold hardships during which countless revolutionaries unflinchingly laid down their lives, the Kuomintang founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen finally overthrew the monarchy and established the republic. This has been universally recognized as a glorious achievement. The Kuomintang and the Communist Party twice cooperated and on both occasions they made tremendous contributions to the country and the nation. We know something about the first cooperation, led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, though we still young at that time. The second cooperation was presided over by your father and, as participants in it, we should know what it was all about. Complicated as the matter was, an overall view of the situation will show that united, the country and the nation benefit;divided, they suffer. Now, as head of the Taiwan administration, you have unshirkable responsibility for bring about the third cooperation. Leaders from both sides will find it easier to talk the matter over since they know each other well, having formerly been schoolmates and close friends. I find it really hard for me to subscribe to those views which describe cooperation as “surrender”, “humiliating”, “suffering losses” or “being duped”. In reviewing history or looking ahead to the future, one should be public-minded and put the interests of the country and the nation above all. Why harp on the narrow interest of a party? Such remarks as “unifying China with the Three People’s Principles” are regarded by all thinking people as unrealistic, deceptive and ostrich-like. People of our generation know the true meaning of the Three People’s Principles quiet well and there is no need to argue about it. Neither is there any need to dwell on such assertions as Taiwan’s “economic prosperity, democracy and easy livelihood”, the truth of which all gentlemen in Taiwan must be quiet aware of. To my mind, if you, for the sake of your party, shoulder the historic task and, going with the stream, take part in peace talks for our national reunification, the two parties will be able to coexist for a long time to come, supervising each other and making a common effort to revitalize China. Otherwise, content as you are with your present rule over the tight eastern corner, how can such a situation be expected to last for long? This is a question already on the minds of thinking people. It is a matter of survival or extinction for the Kuomintang and I hope you will think it over again.
近讀大作，有“切望父靈能回到家園與先人同在” (23)之語，不勝感慨系之。今老先生仍厝于慈湖，統(tǒng)一之后，即當遷安故土，或奉化，或南京，或廬山，以了吾弟孝心。吾弟近曾有言：“要把孝順的心，擴大為民族感情，去敬愛民族，奉獻于國家?！闭\哉斯言，盍不實踐于統(tǒng)一大業(yè)！就國家民族而論，蔣氏兩代對歷史有所交代(24)；就吾弟個人而言，可謂忠孝兩全。否則，吾弟身后事何以自了。尚望三思。
Recently I was profoundly moved when I read one of your writings in which you expressed the “l(fā)onging for my father’s soul to return to the homeland and be among the forefathers”. The remains of your father, now still temporarily placed at Cihu, shall, upon national reunification, be immediately moved to the final resting place in Fenghua, Nanjing or Lushan in fulfilment of your filial whishes. You recently said, “Filial devotion should be expanded into national devotion to the country.” Well said! Why don’t you apply it to the great cause of national reunification? As far as the country and the nation are concerned, you will have fulfilled the task imposed on you and your father by history; as far as you yourself are concerned, this will be an expression of both loyalty and filial piety. Other how could you account for yourself after your passing away? I hope you will think more about it.
吾弟一生坎坷，決非命運安排，一切操之在己(25)。千秋功罪，系于一念之間。當今 國際風云變幻莫測，臺灣上下眾議紛紓歲月不居，來日苦短，夜長夢多(26)，時不我 與。盼弟善為抉擇(27)，未雨綢繆“寥廓海天，不歸何待？”
Dear brother, the frustrations marking your lifetime are by no means predestined. You yourself alone are master of your own fate. Merits and demerits to be recorded in history hinge on the decision made in a moment. The present international situation is capricious. Throughout Taiwan people of all strata are talking about their future. Time does not stay and brief is the day. A long night invites bad dreams; time and tide wait for no man. I hope you, my brother, will make a wise choice and repair the house before it rains. “Vast is the expanse of sky and water. What are you waiting for, staying away from home?”
人到高年，愈加懷舊，如弟方便，余當束裝就道，前往臺北探望，并面聆諸長輩教益?！岸缺M劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇”。遙望南天，不禁神馳(28)，書不盡言，諸希珍重，佇候復(fù)音。 老夫人前請代為問安。方良、緯國及諸侄不一。
The longing for old friends grows with age. If it suits your convenience, I will pack and go on a visit to Taibei to consult our elders. “For all the disasters the brotherhood has remained; a smile at meeting and enmity is banished.” When I look south towards the distant horizon, my heart cannot help going out to my compatriots there. No word is enough to express what I wish to say. It is hoped that you will take good care of yourself. I am looking forward to a reply from you
廖承志
Liao Chengzhi
經(jīng)國吾弟：
Dear brother Ching-Kuo,
咫尺之隔，竟成海天之遙(1)。南京匆匆一晤，瞬逾三十六載。幼時同袍，蘇京把晤，往事歷歷在目(2)。惟長年未通音問，此誠憾事。近聞?wù)`和，深為懸念(3)。人過七旬，多有病痛，至盼善自珍攝。
Who would have expected that the short distance between us should be keeping us poles apart! It is now more than 36 years since our brief encounter in Nanjing. The days we spent together in childhood as well as later in the Soviet capital, however, are still as fresh as ever in my memory. But it’s a pity indeed that we haven’t heard from each other for so many years. Recently it filled me with much concern to learn of your indisposition. Men aged over seventy are liable to illness. I hope you will take good care of yourself
三年以來，我黨一再倡議貴我兩黨舉行談判(4)，同捐前嫌，共竟祖國統(tǒng)一大業(yè)。共竟祖國統(tǒng)一大業(yè)(5)。惟弟一再聲言“不接觸，不談判，不妥協(xié)”，余期期以為不可。世交深情，于公于私，理當進言(6)，敬希詮察。
For three years, we have repeatedly proposed bilateral talks between the two parties to let bygones be bygones and strive together for the great cause of national reunification. But you have time and again insisted upon having “no contact, no talks and no compromise”, which I truly think inadvisable. In view of the public and personal concerns as well as long-standing deep friendship between our two families, I feel duty-bound to offer you a word of advice for careful consideration.
祖國和平統(tǒng)一，乃千秋功業(yè)(7)，臺灣終必回歸祖國，早日解決對各方有利。臺灣同胞 可安居樂業(yè)，兩岸各族人民可解骨肉分離之痛，在臺諸前輩及大陸去臺人員 亦可各得其所，且有利于亞太地區(qū)局勢穩(wěn)定和世界和平。吾弟嘗以“計利當計天下利，求名應(yīng)求萬世名” (8)自勉，倘能于吾弟手中成此偉業(yè)(9)，必為舉國尊敬，世人推崇，功在國家，名留青史(10)。所謂“罪人”之說，實相悖謬。局促東隅，終非久計。明若吾弟，自當了然(11)。如遷延不決，或委之異日(12)，不僅徒生困擾，吾弟亦將難辭其咎(13)。再者，和平統(tǒng)一純屬內(nèi)政。外人巧言令色，意在圖我臺灣，此世人所共知者。當斷不斷，必受其亂(14)。愿弟慎思。
The peaceful reunification of the motherland will be a great achievement to go down in history. Taiwan is bound to be reunited eventually with the motherland. An early
settlement of the problem will be in the interests of all. The compatriots in Taiwan will be able to live in peace and happiness, the people of all nationalities on both sides of the Taiwan straits will be relieved of the pains of separation from their flesh and blood, and our senior folks in Taiwan and those formerly migrated there from the mainland will all be properly placed and provided for. And, moreover, it will contribute to the stability of Asia and the Pacific region as well as to world peace. You used to seek self-encouragement from the motto, “The interests to be considered should be the interests of all; the fame to be sought should be an everlasting fame.” If you should be instrumental in bringing about the cause of national reunification, you will certainly win esteem and praise nationwide and your meritorious service to the country will earn you a niche in the temple of fame. It is sheer absurdity to think yourself “guilty” for rendering such a service. After all, dragging out your existence in that tight eastern corner is by no means a permanent solution. This should be crystal clear to a man of your wisdom. Procrastination, hesitation or sleeping over the problem will only lead to adversity and you, my brother, will hardly be able to escape censure. Moreover, peaceful reunification is entirely an internal affair of China. As is known to all, outsiders who are talking glibly against it have designs on our Taiwan. To be irresolute when a prompt decision should be taken would only spell disaster. I, therefore, would like you to think this over carefully.
孫先生手創(chuàng)之中國國民黨，歷盡艱辛，無數(shù)先烈前仆后繼，終于*帝制，建立民國(15)。光輝業(yè)跡，已成定論。國共兩度合作，均對國家民族作出巨大貢獻。首次合作，孫先生領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，吾輩雖幼，亦知一二。再次合作，老先生主其事，吾輩身在其中，應(yīng)知梗概。事雖經(jīng)緯萬端，但縱觀全局，合則對國家有利，分則必傷民族元氣(16)。今日吾弟在臺主政，三次合作，大責難謝。雙方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，同窗摯友，彼此相知，談之更易(17)。所謂“投降”、“屈事”、“吃虧”、“上當”之說，實難茍同。評價歷史，展望未來，應(yīng)天下為公，以國家民族利益為準則(18)，何發(fā)黨私之論！至于“以三民主義統(tǒng)一中國”云云，識者皆以為太不現(xiàn)實，未免自欺欺人(19)。三民主義之真諦，吾輩深知，毋須爭辯。所謂臺灣“經(jīng)濟繁榮，社會民主，民生樂利”等等，在臺諸公，心中有數(shù)，亦毋庸贅言。試為貴黨計，如能依時順勢，負起歷史責任，毅然和談， 達成國家統(tǒng)一，則兩黨長期共存，互相監(jiān)督，共圖振興中華之大業(yè)。否則，偏安之局(20)，焉能自保。有識之士，慮已及此(21)。事關(guān)國民黨興亡絕續(xù)(22)，望弟再思。
After going through untold hardships during which countless revolutionaries unflinchingly laid down their lives, the Kuomintang founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen finally overthrew the monarchy and established the republic. This has been universally recognized as a glorious achievement. The Kuomintang and the Communist Party twice cooperated and on both occasions they made tremendous contributions to the country and the nation. We know something about the first cooperation, led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, though we still young at that time. The second cooperation was presided over by your father and, as participants in it, we should know what it was all about. Complicated as the matter was, an overall view of the situation will show that united, the country and the nation benefit;divided, they suffer. Now, as head of the Taiwan administration, you have unshirkable responsibility for bring about the third cooperation. Leaders from both sides will find it easier to talk the matter over since they know each other well, having formerly been schoolmates and close friends. I find it really hard for me to subscribe to those views which describe cooperation as “surrender”, “humiliating”, “suffering losses” or “being duped”. In reviewing history or looking ahead to the future, one should be public-minded and put the interests of the country and the nation above all. Why harp on the narrow interest of a party? Such remarks as “unifying China with the Three People’s Principles” are regarded by all thinking people as unrealistic, deceptive and ostrich-like. People of our generation know the true meaning of the Three People’s Principles quiet well and there is no need to argue about it. Neither is there any need to dwell on such assertions as Taiwan’s “economic prosperity, democracy and easy livelihood”, the truth of which all gentlemen in Taiwan must be quiet aware of. To my mind, if you, for the sake of your party, shoulder the historic task and, going with the stream, take part in peace talks for our national reunification, the two parties will be able to coexist for a long time to come, supervising each other and making a common effort to revitalize China. Otherwise, content as you are with your present rule over the tight eastern corner, how can such a situation be expected to last for long? This is a question already on the minds of thinking people. It is a matter of survival or extinction for the Kuomintang and I hope you will think it over again.
近讀大作，有“切望父靈能回到家園與先人同在” (23)之語，不勝感慨系之。今老先生仍厝于慈湖，統(tǒng)一之后，即當遷安故土，或奉化，或南京，或廬山，以了吾弟孝心。吾弟近曾有言：“要把孝順的心，擴大為民族感情，去敬愛民族，奉獻于國家?！闭\哉斯言，盍不實踐于統(tǒng)一大業(yè)！就國家民族而論，蔣氏兩代對歷史有所交代(24)；就吾弟個人而言，可謂忠孝兩全。否則，吾弟身后事何以自了。尚望三思。
Recently I was profoundly moved when I read one of your writings in which you expressed the “l(fā)onging for my father’s soul to return to the homeland and be among the forefathers”. The remains of your father, now still temporarily placed at Cihu, shall, upon national reunification, be immediately moved to the final resting place in Fenghua, Nanjing or Lushan in fulfilment of your filial whishes. You recently said, “Filial devotion should be expanded into national devotion to the country.” Well said! Why don’t you apply it to the great cause of national reunification? As far as the country and the nation are concerned, you will have fulfilled the task imposed on you and your father by history; as far as you yourself are concerned, this will be an expression of both loyalty and filial piety. Other how could you account for yourself after your passing away? I hope you will think more about it.
吾弟一生坎坷，決非命運安排，一切操之在己(25)。千秋功罪，系于一念之間。當今 國際風云變幻莫測，臺灣上下眾議紛紓歲月不居，來日苦短，夜長夢多(26)，時不我 與。盼弟善為抉擇(27)，未雨綢繆“寥廓海天，不歸何待？”
Dear brother, the frustrations marking your lifetime are by no means predestined. You yourself alone are master of your own fate. Merits and demerits to be recorded in history hinge on the decision made in a moment. The present international situation is capricious. Throughout Taiwan people of all strata are talking about their future. Time does not stay and brief is the day. A long night invites bad dreams; time and tide wait for no man. I hope you, my brother, will make a wise choice and repair the house before it rains. “Vast is the expanse of sky and water. What are you waiting for, staying away from home?”
人到高年，愈加懷舊，如弟方便，余當束裝就道，前往臺北探望，并面聆諸長輩教益?！岸缺M劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇”。遙望南天，不禁神馳(28)，書不盡言，諸希珍重，佇候復(fù)音。 老夫人前請代為問安。方良、緯國及諸侄不一。
The longing for old friends grows with age. If it suits your convenience, I will pack and go on a visit to Taibei to consult our elders. “For all the disasters the brotherhood has remained; a smile at meeting and enmity is banished.” When I look south towards the distant horizon, my heart cannot help going out to my compatriots there. No word is enough to express what I wish to say. It is hoped that you will take good care of yourself. I am looking forward to a reply from you