Chapter 41 Correcting Several Mistakes in Mass Work

(April 11, 1946) Comrade Chen Yi[1]: Reported on the 7th.With regard to correcting mistakes in mass work, the suggestions are as follows: (1) There are two types of mistakes in mass work.The first category is blank villages and commandism.Blank Village is the result of the right leadership not mobilizing the masses at all.Commandism, on the surface, is actively mobilizing the masses, but in fact it replaces the conscious and organized struggle of the masses by arranging arrangements and forcing the masses to obey, that is, replacing the mass line with a non-mass line, and the result is still blank villages, and have a bad influence on the masses.Therefore, where there are such errors, attention must be paid to research and correction.

(2) The second category is the excessive actions of the party in the process of leading the mass struggle, that is, "left" mistakes.Among them, the first thing to pay attention to is the violation of the interests of the middle peasants. Once discovered, it must be corrected quickly; the second is that in addition to reducing rent and interest, it has unduly attacked the rich peasants and small and medium landlords, and attention must also be corrected at an appropriate time. (3) As for dealing severe blows to traitors, landlords, tyrants, and reactionaries, as long as it is a genuine mass action, it is not wrong but necessary.The loud cries of the gentry and landowners in the big cities are inevitable, and we should never be moved by them.But when the masses, the struggle has been won, and the liquidation and rent reduction have been realized, the party should advise the masses to change the policy of suppressing the landlord class to a policy of pulling.For example, let the fugitive landlord return to his hometown, provide the landlord with a way out of life, and contact enlightened gentlemen to participate in certain work, etc.The policy of pulling, whose purpose is to reduce the opposition and ease the tense atmosphere, is therefore necessary.But we should be careful not to pull it too early, which will damage the interests of the masses and affect the mood of the masses.

(4) As long as it is a real mass movement, when we correct the mistakes of the "Left", that is, correct the excessive actions of the cadres and the masses against the middle peasants, rich peasants and small and medium landlords, we should use great goodwill and enthusiasm to persuade them and make them Correct their mistakes on the basis of self-consciousness and happiness, and come up with remedial methods. You must not pour cold water on them, and you must not make them feel frustrated. (5) The call said that it is quite right to gradually correct mistakes under the principle of not wavering and acknowledging the interests of the peasants and without weakening the enthusiasm of the masses.Mass struggles in Shandong and other places are developing. Although there are many mistakes, great achievements have been made and the future is bright.

(6) Rent reduction and anti-rape liquidation are both indispensable. We should study the specific content of the work in various places and be good at leadership so that mass struggles can be broadly mobilized, but enough is enough to make it reasonable, beneficial and restrained. (7) The issues mentioned in this telegram should be widely known to comrades in all regions. If you think it is necessary, please forward the summary to the district party committees and prefectural committees. central Mao Zhen Published according to Mao Zedong's manuscript. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------

note [1] Chen Yi, then deputy secretary of the East China Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, commander of the New Fourth Army and commander of the Shandong Military Region.