廖承志致蒋经国的信
A Letter to Chiang Ching-Kuo
Liao Chengzhi
经国吾弟：
咫尺之隔，竟成海天之遥。南京匆匆一晤，瞬逾三十六载。幼时同袍，苏京把晤，往事历历在目。惟长年未通音问，此成憾事。近闻政躬违和，深为悬念。人过七旬，多有病痛，至盼善自珍摄。
Dear brother Ching-Kuo,
Neither you nor I ever expected that such a narrow strip of water should keep us poles apart! Over 36 years have passed since our brief encounter in Nanjing. From our childhood friendship to our heart-to-heart chats in Moscow, everything we experienced together is still fresh in my memory. It is really something unfortunate that we haven’t heard from each other for years. Recently, I was told that you were not in good health, which lies at my heart. People in their seventies are likely to suffer pains and illness. I sincerely hope you will take good care of yourself.
三年以来，我党一再倡议贵我两党举行谈判，同捐前嫌，共竟祖国统一大业。惟弟一再声言“不接触，不谈判，不妥协”，余期期以为不可。世交深情，于公于私，理当进言，敬希诠察。
Over the past three years, we have repeatedly proposed holding talks between the KMT and the CPC to let the bygones be bygones and make joint efforts for the reunification of our motherland. But you, dear brother, have time and again announced that there should be no contact, no talks and no compromise, which I think stands on no reason. Considering both the whole nation’s interests and our close friendship that has lasted for generations, I feel duty-bound to offer some advice which I hope you will consider carefully.
祖国和平统一，乃千秋功业，台湾终必回归祖国，早日解决对各方有利。台湾同胞可安居乐业，两岸各族人民可解骨肉分离之痛，在台诸前辈及大陆去台人员亦可各得其所，且有利于亚太地区局势稳定和世界和平。
China’s peaceful reunification is a great achievement to be recorded in history. Taiwan is bound to return to the embrace of motherland eventually. An early settlement is good to all. The compatriots in Taiwan will be able to live in peace and happiness, the people of different ethnic groups on both sides of the Taiwan Straits will no longer suffer the pains of separation from their kith and kin, and the elders in Taiwan and those who have gone there from the mainland will be properly placed and well provided for. And moreover, it will contribute to the stability of the Asian-Pacific region as well as to world peace.
吾弟尝以“计利当计天下利，求名应求万世名”自勉，倘能于吾弟手中成此伟业，必为举国尊敬，世人推崇，功在国家，名留青史。
My dear brother, you used to encourage yourself with the motto: “The interests I pursue is the interests of all, the fame I seek is what can last forever.” If China’s reunification could be accomplished through your endeavor, you will be admired not only by the Chinese people, but also by the people throughout the world. It would be your great contribution to our nation and your name would certainly be long-remembered in history.
所谓“罪人”之说，实相悖谬。局促东隅，终非久计。明若吾弟，自当了然。如迁延不决，或委以异日，不仅徒生困扰，吾弟亦将难辞其咎。
It is of no reason to describe this contribution as “guilt.” After all, putting up in that small eastern island is not a long-term solution. My dear brother, you are clever enough to know this. Hesitation, procrastination or leaving the problem unsolved till some day in the future will only bring troubles and you, my dear brother, will have no way to escape the blame.
再者，和平统一纯属中国内政。外人巧言令色，意在图我台湾，此世人所共知之者。当断不断，必受其乱，愿弟慎思。
Moreover, peaceful reunification is entirely an internal affair of China. As is known to all, those foreigners who talk glibly about it actually have design on our Taiwan. When a decision needs to be made, hesitation is bound to bring trouble. I hope you will think it carefully.
孙先生手创之中国国民党，历尽艰辛，无数先烈前仆后继，终于推翻帝制，建立民国。光辉业绩，已成定论，国共两次合作，均对国家民族做出巨大贡献。首次合作，孙先生领导，吾辈虽幼，亦知一二。再次合作，老先生主其事，吾辈身在其中，应知梗概。事虽经纬万端，但纵观全局，合则对国家有利，分则必伤民族元气。今日吾弟在台主政，三次合作，大责难谢。
Having gone through countless hardships during which many of the outstanding revolutionaries gloriously laid down their lives, the KMT founded by Dr. Sun Yet-Sen finally overthrew the monarchy and established the republic. Their achievements have been recorded in history as a glorious contribution. The KMT and the CPC cooperated twice in history and on both occasions, they made great contributions to the country and the nation. The first-round cooperation was led by Dr. Sun Yet-Sen. Though we were young at that time, we know something about it. The second-round cooperation was presided over by your father, and as participants in it, we knew all about it. Although the situation is very complicated, an overall view of what is going on now shows that cooperation will benefit the country and the nation while division will make them both suffer. Since you are presiding over the administration of Taiwan, you have the unshakable responsibility for the realization of the third-round cooperation.
双方领导，同窗挚友，彼此相知，谈之更易。所谓“投降”、“屈事”、“吃亏”、“上当”之说，实难苟同。评价历史，展望未来，应天下为公，以国家民族利益为最高准则，何发党私之论!
Leaders on both sides used to be schoolmates or close friends who well know one another, so it will be easier for them to talk the matter over. I find it really hard to nod my head to the saying which describes our cooperation as your “surrender”, “humiliation”, “suffering loses”, or “being duped”. In reviewing history or looking forward to the future, one should be selfless and put the public interests of the country and the nation above all. It is unadvisable to just emphasize each party’s selfish interest.
至于以“三民主义统一中国”云云，识者皆以为太不现实，未免自欺欺人。三民主义之真谛，吾辈深知，毋须争辩。所谓台湾“经济繁荣，社会民主，民生乐利”等等，在台诸公，心中有数，亦毋庸赘言。
Such talks as “Reunifying China with the Three People’s Principles” are regarded by all broad-vision people as unrealistic, deceptive, and self-deceiving. People of our generation well know the true meaning of the Three People’s Principles, and there is no need to argue about it. Neither is there any need to dwell on such assertion as Taiwan’s “economic prosperity, social democracy and easy livelihood”, the truth of which all gentlemen in Taiwan know clearly.
试为贵党计，如能依时顺势，负起历史责任，毅然和谈，达成国家统一，则两党长期共存，互相监督，共图振兴中华之大业。否则偏安之局，焉能自保。有识之士，虑已及此。事关国民党兴亡绝续，望弟再思。
As I see it, for the sake of your party, if you would take up the historical responsibility and resolutely take part in peace talks to realize China’s peaceful reunification as required by time and tide, the KMT and the CPC would be able to co-exist for a long time in days to come, supervising each other while making joint efforts to revitalize China. Otherwise, how could the KMT stay long in that small corner? This is a question which is already in the minds of those broad-vision people. It involves the survival and development of the KMT and I hope you will think it over and over again.
近读大作，有“切望父灵能回到家园与先人同在”之语，不胜感慨系之。今老先生仍厝于慈湖，统一之后，即当迁安故土，或奉化，或南京，或庐山，以了吾弟孝心。
Recently I was deeply moved when I was reading one of your writings in which you expressed your strong wish to return your father’s soul to the homeland and get buried together with 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 wishes.
吾弟近曾有言:“要把孝顺的心，扩大为民族感情，去敬爱民族，奉献于国家。”旨哉斯言，盍不实践于统一大业！就国家民族而论，蒋氏两代对历史有所交代，就吾弟个人而言，可谓忠孝两全。否则，吾弟身后事何以自了。尚望三思。
You recently said: “Filial devotion should be expanded into national devotion which means love of the nation and dedication to the country.” What an excellent statement it is! Why don’t you apply it to the great cause of China’s reunification? As far as the country and the nation are concerned, you and your father can justify yourselves before history, as far as you yourself are concerned, this will be an expression of both loyalty and filial piety. Otherwise, how can you rest in peace after your death? I hope you will think of it carefully and attentively.
吾弟一生坎坷，决非命运安排，一切操之在己。千秋功罪，系于一念之间。当今国际风云变幻莫测，台湾上下众议纷纭，岁月不居，来日苦短，夜长梦多，时不我与。盼弟善为抉择，未雨绸缪。“寥廓海天，不归何待？”
Dear brother! Your life has been full of frustrations, which should not be attributed to fate. Everything is in your own hands. The good or the evil to be recorded in history hinges on the decision made in a moment. The current international situation is beyond prediction. Throughout Taiwan, people of all strata are talking about their future. Time does not stay and so short is the day. A long night is fraught with bad dreams, time and tide go on waiting for no man. I hope you, my dear brother, will make a correct 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，愈加怀旧，如弟方便，余当束装就道，前往台北探望，并面聆诸长辈教益。“度尽劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇。”遥望南天，不禁神驰，书不尽言，诸希珍重，伫候复音。
老夫人前请代为问安。方良、经国及诸侄不一。
顺祝
近祺！
廖承志
一九八二年七月二十四日
The aged people are usually getting more and more nostalgic. If it is convenient to you, I will pack and set out for a visit to Taipei to seek enlightenment from our elders. “After so many disasters, our brotherhood is still there, a smile at the meeting drives away the enmity from the minds.” When I look south towards the distant horizon, my heart cannot help flying out to my compatriots there. No word is good enough to express what I want to say! I hope you will take good care of yourself. I am looking forward to your possibly earlier reply.
Please convey my regards to your mother as well as to Fang-Liang, Wei-Kuo and the children.
Best wishes to you.
Yours sincerely,
Liao Chengzhi
July 24th, 1982
Translated by Mr. Xiao Zhaohua
责任编辑:俞利军 杨献捷
萧兆华简介
萧兆华，1966年毕业于上海外国语学院英语系，现为教育部“全国自主教育研究院”、“全国自主教育联盟”等机构专家顾问，对外经济贸易大学MTI优秀实践导师。
曾担任过美国驻华大使、美国商务部和联合国高官的重要演讲口译，担任过多任天津市市长的口笔译工作。曾在北京大学、上海交大和西安交大等高校和政府机构做过“中国人如何学好翻译”的讲座，广为人知，颇受欢迎。
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发表于 2018-5-12 11:09
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