As the revolutionary war is now undergoing rapid development, the central task of the Soviets is to lead and advance the revolutionary war; all work must be centered on the war. Every sacrifice should be made in the interest of securing complete victory in the war. Strengthening and consolidating Soviet leadership is a fundamental condition for achieving that victory. Although the local Soviets have already undergone a comprehensive reorganization and have made some progress in their work, their weak leadership and numerous errors have become apparent in the crucial task of leading and developing the revolutionary war. First and foremost, they have failed to place the war at the center of their activities. Consequently, the expansion of the Red Army has not been actively pursued in many areas, nor has there been vigorous mobilization of the masses to the front lines to participate in the war. In some cases, the leadership of the local armed forces has not resolutely launched offensives against the enemy—for example, the Longyan Revolutionary Committee and Changting County—where, instead of firmly leading the people in determined combat against the enemy, these bodies have shrunk back and fled, inflicting considerable losses on the Soviet areas. Moreover, insufficient attention has been paid to the political leadership of the guerrilla units, resulting in serious antagonism between the Red and White camps. There has also been no resolute effort to expand the Soviet areas or consolidate newly liberated territories. Such instances fully demonstrate the unsoundness of certain local Soviet governments and their failure to resolutely carry out their assigned tasks. This poses an enormous threat to the development and ultimate victory of the revolutionary war.

Looking further within the Soviet government itself, we find that some still harbor class-alien elements who continue to exert influence; in their work, these elements often manifest non-class-oriented policies. Such non-class positions are particularly evident in questions concerning land reform and labor protection. Bureaucratic corruption is taking root in certain local Soviet governments, and embezzlement remains a serious problem. The manner in which these governments conduct their affairs is frequently divorced from the masses, relying instead on commandist methods that compel the population to comply. The regulations providing preferential treatment for the Red Army are not being fully implemented, thereby hindering efforts to expand its ranks. Women’s rights are neglected, and marriage legislation is not effectively enforced, thus impeding women’s participation in revolutionary work. Lower-level authorities often disregard or perfunctorily execute the directives of higher organs, regular representative conferences of urban and rural Soviets have yet to be established, and in some villages the village Soviets simply remain closed, doing nothing. Much of the work exists only in name, with little actual activity. These grave phenomena and errors indicate that the local Soviets are still not sufficiently sound and are therefore unable to effectively assume the responsibility of leading the revolutionary war.

In order to strengthen the Soviets’ leadership of the revolutionary war and to eliminate all errors and shortcomings in Soviet work, it has been decided that local Soviet governments shall undergo continued re-election and reorganization. Through this process, non-class alien elements and all those who have been passive or negligent in their work related to the revolutionary war are to be purged; corrupt and degenerate bureaucrats are likewise to be expelled from the Soviets; and energetic new cadres are to be recruited, so as to establish strong, capable Soviet governments that can truly fulfill the task of leading the revolutionary war. The procedure for this election will not involve simultaneous re-elections at all levels throughout the Soviet areas of Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, but rather will proceed separately, county by county. This is because, at present, during the period of rapid war development, if elections were held simultaneously across the region, the various local governments would be compelled to devote their full attention to the electoral process, thereby bringing the work of leading and developing the revolutionary war to a standstill—a situation highly detrimental to the war effort. However, the primary criterion for determining whether a given level of government shall undergo a full or partial re-election will be its performance in leading the revolutionary war. The counties designated for either full or partial re-election are listed below:

I. Counties to undergo full re-election:  Jiangxi Province: Nangang, Shicheng, Huichang, Xunwu, Anyuan, Yudu, Yongfeng, and others.  Fujian Province: Changting, Ninghua, Xinquan, Wuping, and others. Longyan is hereby formally established as a county-level Soviet government.

II. Counties to undergo partial re-election:  Jiangxi Province: Xingguo, Shengli, Ningdu, Gonglue, Gan County, Le’an, Wantai, and others.  Fujian Province: Yongding, Shanghang, and Ruijin, which is directly under central administration.

In conducting these re-elections, it is imperative to mobilize the masses around the task of advancing the revolutionary war, to examine and critically assess Soviet work, and to use this electoral campaign as a practical means of mobilizing the people to join the Red Army and go to the front lines. This approach contrasts sharply with past “peaceful” re-elections and with electoral campaigns that were disconnected from the war. During these re-elections at all levels, particular attention must be paid to attracting active worker cadres to serve on the representative assemblies and county executive committees, so as to reinforce the workers’ component within the Soviets at every level. Upon receipt of this directive, all Soviet government chairmen are required to immediately begin preparations for the re-elections. The deadlines for these elections are to be set by the chairmen of the respective provincial Soviets of Jiangxi and Fujian, as well as by the chairman of the Ruijin Soviet, each according to local conditions. The procedures for the re-elections shall remain in accordance with the existing electoral regulations.

Issued by:  Chairmen of the various Soviet governments: Mao Zedong, Vice-Chairmen: Xiang Ying and Zhang Guotao  September 10, 1931