Mao Zedong's letter brings $918,000 at auctionDecember 16, 2015 - 13:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A 1937 letter from Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong to then-Labour Party leader Clement Attlee has sold at auction for $918,000, BBC News reports. In the letter, Mao asks Attlee for "practical assistance" in battling Japanese troops who had invaded China. Auctioneers Sotheby's said the historical letter was an "exceptionally rare" example of Mao's signature. The lot far exceeded its £100,000-150,000 estimate and was bought by a Chinese private collector. In the typed letter signed by Mao, the communist leader tells then-opposition leader Attlee: "We believe that the British people, when they know the truth about Japanese aggression in China, will rise in support of the Chinese people, will organize practical assistance on their behalf, and will compel their own government to adopt a policy of active resistance to a danger that ultimately threatens them no less than ourselves." The letter was written from Yan'an in north-west China, where the communists set up their headquarters following the Japanese invasion. Sotheby's said the timing of the communication was significant because Attlee had started to lead the party away from its "long-held pacifist position," and became "a major critic of the Conservative government's policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany and her allies." Mao's letter was sent to Atlee by the journalist James Bertram, who added an accompanying note to Attlee advising the British politician to "keep the enclosed letter, if only as a curiosity." Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's specialist in books and manuscripts said the letter was "an extraordinarily early instance of Mao engaging in international diplomacy, and is an exceptionally rare example of Mao's signature." He added it was "only the second document signed by Mao to appear on the international auction market in recent decades." The sale, in London, comes after several weeks of interest in China following the much-publicized four-day visit to the UK by Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. Chinese history gained further attention last month when Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell threw a copy of the Chinese Communist Party leader's Little Red Book at Chancellor George Osborne in Parliament, claiming UK assets were being sold to the Chinese. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |