The China Democratic League started out as the League of Chinese Democratic Political Groups, which was established by representatives of different minority parties in 1941. In 1944 it was reorganized as a political party based on individual membership. The League saw its task to be playing a moderating and mediating role as a “third force” between the CCP and the GMD. But when the GMD broke the agreements laid down at the Political Consultative Conference (PCC) in 1946, many of the League’s members became disillusioned with the government. The proclamation translated here was written in April 1947 and reveals the League’s dismay at the turn of events and its attempts to make the government live up to its promises. Since the day of its founding, the League had spoken out in support of human rights. It demanded freedom of the press and the release of all political prisoners, among other things. The League was itself affected by the GMD’s repression; several of its members were arrested and a few prominent members, such as the poet Wen Yiduo, were murdered. The League was banned in October 1947, which resulted in its becoming aligned with the CCP. From 1949 onward, the League has continued to exist as one of the eight minor parties on the mainland.
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