No. 193122.5 In the past, the organization of the Soviets was very imperfect: First, the administrative districts were too large, making administration inconvenient. Second, there were too many tiers of government, resulting in sluggish command and poor coordination. Third, and most importantly, the electoral procedures were incomplete. Instead of holding simple mass meetings, representative assemblies or joint presidium meetings were convened without following proper electoral procedures to elect governments at all levels. In particular, the basic units of the Soviet system—the village and town Soviets—had not been truly established. Fourth, the division of labor and working methods within governments at all levels were largely inappropriate. All of these matters were inconsistent with the Soviet Constitution and the various regulations and detailed rules issued by the Central Executive Committee.

The Provisional Central Government hereby announces that all local county governments must, in accordance with the Constitution and the provisional regulations and detailed rules promulgated by the Central Authorities, redraw administrative boundaries and reorganize governments at all levels. To begin with, the Provisional Regulations on the Redefinition of Administrative Districts shall be implemented to redivide counties into townships and villages (abolishing the village and group levels), after which township and town Soviets (the fundamental organs of the Soviet system) are to be elected in accordance with the Electoral Regulations. Subsequently, in line with the Provisional Organization Regulations for Local Governments, all levels of government—from the township and town Soviets down to the provincial Soviets—must be completely rebuilt. This is an extremely important undertaking; local governments at every level must demonstrate the utmost resolve and devote great energy to carrying it out thoroughly and prudently, so as to prevent the newly demarcated administrative districts from repeating the shortcomings of the old ones, and to ensure that the reorganized governments do not resemble their predecessors. To avert these defects, the provincial governments of all six provinces are required to exert vigorous leadership over this campaign to establish local Soviets. In addition to issuing detailed circulars and directives, they are also to convene meetings at the provincial and county levels, bringing together those primarily responsible in both county and district governments to determine appropriate dates for calling conferences of persons responsible for local government affairs in each village and township. Provincial and county officials will then be dispatched to provide guidance, ensuring that these meetings engage in a clear and comprehensive discussion of the significance of the local Soviet-building movement and of the practical methods for its implementation. Moreover, during the actual process of redrawing boundaries and reelecting governments, supervisory teams are to be sent to each county to conduct on-site inspections, promptly clarifying any doubts and correcting errors. The same approach is to be followed in the guidance provided by counties to districts and by districts to townships, so as to guarantee that this Soviet-building campaign yields excellent results.

The provinces of Jiangxi and Fujian, together with the county directly under Ruijin, are designated as pilot areas for implementing the Soviet-building campaign in accordance with the new statutes, with the period running from January 1, 1931, to March 31, 1931. The provincial Soviets of Jiangxi and Fujian, as well as that of Ruijin, are to immediately draw up suitable work plans within this timeframe, ensuring that the delineation of administrative districts and the election of Soviets at all levels—especially the delimitation and election at the township level, which should absorb the bulk of time and effort—are systematically and successfully completed within one hundred days. They are also to report progress to the Central Government on a regular basis, so that timely guidance may be provided. Other provinces are to commence implementation from the date of this decree.

Issued by the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee, Mao Zedong, and the Vice Chairmen, Xiang Ying and Zhang Guotao, on November 15, 1931.