Chapter 17 Regarding the establishment of vice-chairman and general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[1]

(September 13, 1956) Here I would also like to talk about the establishment of a vice chairman and a general secretary.As mentioned last time, the Central Committee plans to appoint four vice-chairmen, namely Comrade Shaoqi, Comrade Enlai, Comrade Zhu De, and Comrade Chen Yun[2].In addition, a secretariat is also planned to be set up. The list of the secretariat has not yet been determined, but the general secretary plans to nominate Comrade Deng Xiaoping[3].Is the selection of the four vice-chairmen and the general secretary appropriate? Of course, this is the responsibility of the Central Committee, which is to be elected by the Central Committee.But if you want the delegates to hear about it, please ask for your opinions, okay? For a big party like ours and a big country like ours, for the sake of the security of the country and the party, it might be better to have a few more people.

The party constitution is now going to be revised, which is called "several vice-chairmen".It was Comrade Shaoqi who first proposed the establishment of four vice-chairmen.There is a chairman and a vice chairman. Comrade Shaoqi feels lonely, and so do I.There is a chairman, four vice-chairmen, and a general secretary. My "windbreak forest" has several. "There are unpredictable things in the sky, and people have misfortunes and blessings", so it is easier to handle.Unless an atomic bomb is dropped and the few of us are in the same group, then another election will be held.If it was just an individual injury, or because of illness, or for some reason, and you had to see Marx in advance, then there would always be someone who would resist, and our country would not be affected.We just want to prepare for that.At the same time, having more people is good for work.It is absolutely necessary to have a general secretary.I said that those of us, including me, the commander-in-chief[4], and half of Comrade Shaoqi (not including Comrades Enlai, Chen Yun, and Deng Xiaoping, who are young and strong), are just doing extra work.We can't play the leading role on stage, we don't have the qualifications, we can only maintain, help, and play such a role.Don't think that I am retreating now and want to stop working. It is true that I am not as good as others in terms of body, age, and energy.I belong to the status quo faction, relying on veterans to make a living.Veteranship is also good, because he is old.But the ability is not enough, such as writing articles or giving speeches on stage.Comrades are also very concerned about us, saying that it is not good to have too much work. This kind of public opinion is correct.Then, who should be the chairman and vice-chairman? It is a few comrades from the original secretariat.This is not to say that other comrades cannot be the chairman and vice-chairmen, and comrades can also nominate others, but according to the custom, there is only one chairman and four vice-chairmen for the time being.I am prepared, that is, when the time is right, I will not be the chairman, and I ask comrades to appoint me an honorary chairman.Is it true that the honorary chairman does not do things? He still does things as usual, as long as he can do it.

Comrades, please think about it and see if this is appropriate.The purpose of the center is for the security of the country. If there are more people, everyone will take a little responsibility.As for the change of the secretary-general to the general secretary, it is just a change from Chinese to foreign. (Deng Xiaoping: I am more content with being the secretary-general.) He is willing to be the secretary-general of China, but he is unwilling to be the general secretary of a foreign country.In fact, the general secretary of a foreign country is equivalent to the secretary general of China, and the secretary general of China is equivalent to the general secretary of a foreign country.He said that it is not going well, I can publicize it, and if everyone agrees, it will go smoothly.I think Deng Xiaoping is more fair. Like me, he is not without flaws, but he is more fair.He is more talented and more capable of doing things.Do you think he can do everything well? No, like me, he has done many things wrong, and some of his words have been wrong; but in comparison, he can do things well.He is more thoughtful, more fair, and a kind person, which makes people less afraid.I will give him a few words of publicity today.He said he can't, I think it will work.Whether it goes smoothly or not depends on everyone's public opinion. My observation is that it is relatively smooth.There will be people who are dissatisfied with him, just like some people are dissatisfied with me.Some people are dissatisfied with me, and I have offended many people. These people chose me today to take care of the overall situation.You said that Deng Xiaoping never offended anyone? I don't believe it, but generally speaking, this person is more considerate of the overall situation, more honest, and more fair in dealing with problems. He made mistakes and was very strict with himself.He said that he was a little apprehensive because he had struggled in the party.

As for Comrade Chen Yun, he just said that it was impossible and that it was not going well.I think he is a good person, he is more fair, capable, more stable, and he sees problems with perspective.I didn't know him well in the past, but in the past few years since I entered Beijing, I have worked with him, and I know him better.Don't think he is very peaceful, but he sees problems sharply and can grasp the main points.So, I think Comrade Chen Yun is going.As for whether it is smooth or not, you can comment. He is from the working class. Doesn’t it mean that there are few working-class elements in our Central Committee? I see quite a few, and one of the five members of our chairman and vice-chairman.Please think about it among the representatives, because the members of the Politburo, the secretary of the secretariat, the chairman, and the vice-chairman have to propose a whole list and elect together.As for the Standing Committee, it will be composed of the chairman, vice chairman and general secretary.This is not to say that other people cannot be members of the Standing Committee, and others can, because if one is mentioned, there can be a second one, and there can be a third one, so we will use this method for the time being.This is to turn the old secretariat into a standing committee, except that there is one more general secretary than in the past.We also need to set up a secretariat. There may be several more people in the secretariat, and there may be more than a dozen secretaries and alternate secretaries.Many things have to be dealt with there, and proposals are put forward there.The number of members of the Politburo should also be expanded, not thirteen, but about twenty.Because our Central Committee has one hundred and seventy people, maybe one hundred and seventy.See if it can be arranged in this way? No decision will be made today.

Published based on the transcript of the speech kept by the Central Archives. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is part of Mao Zedong's speech at the third session of the Seventh Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. [2] Chen Yun was a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Central Secretariat at that time.At the First Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held on September 28, 1956, he was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Committee.

[3] Deng Xiaoping, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Secretary General of the Central Committee at that time.At the First Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held on September 28, 1956, he was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and general secretary of the Central Committee. [4] Refers to Zhu De.