QUESTION OF OPPOSING RICH PEASANTS

Notice Number 2 of Central Revolutionary Military Commission, 1931

[Text] 1. Reasons for Opposing the Rich Peasants

First, rich peasants are rural semi-landlords and capitalists, and an exploiting class. They support feudal power and want to be capitalists, and are entirely in opposition to the interests of the workers, hired farm laborers, poor peasants and the mass of middle peasants. In order to guard the interests of the workers, hired farm laborers, poor peasants and middle peasants, we must oppose the rich peasants.

Second, the rich peasants are an exploiting class. They are constantly in close collusion with reactionary power in an attempt to undermine the revolution. To consolidate the soviet governments and protect the victory of land reform, we must oppose the middle peasants.

Third, the rich peasants are taking the capitalist road. We are taking the socialist road. Therefore, they are completely opposite to us, and in order to make the revolution advance to the road of socialism we must intensify the struggle to oppose the rich peasants.

2. Errors in Opposing the Rich Peasants

In an examination of opposition to the rich peasants in the past, four major errors appear:

First, opposition to exploitation was not taken as the test, and opposition to the rich peasants was treated as a special form of fund-raising. Rather than exploitation, possession of money was used as the test. Money tests, in which for example people with less than 100 yuan were not beaten, but those with more than 100 yuan were beaten, were used by brigades, and in a minority of places it got to the point that people with more than 20 cash or an old cow got beaten, which terrified the masses and made them think the revolution was to make everybody poor instead of making everybody rich and improving their lives.

Second, there were encroachments on the middle peasants. The second fault, of encroaching on the middle peasants' interests, grew out of the first fault. Middle peasants are those who have enough land and enough food and are not exploited by anyone, but also do not go out and exploit anyone else. Not only should these people not be encroached upon, but we should link up closely with them instead and all oppose the rich peasants together. Since the middle peasants will only join a revolution led by the proletariat, our revolutionary power can only reach its full force and the revolution can only develop rapidly when we unite with them.

Third, the rich peasants' lands were not thoroughly redistributed. In many places the land distribution was conducted just by taking away excesses and making up deficiencies rather than by taking away from rich lands and compensating poor lands. When the rich peasants held such things as good lands, woodland, dwellings and ponds, these were not thoroughly distributed. As a result the rich peasants were in a favored position economically and got hold of political leadership. The soviets' governments and the revolutionary groups were captured by the rich peasants, who then used their political and economic power to exploit and oppress and impoverish the peasant masses.

3. The Correct Method of Opposing the Rich Peasants

a. Politically

First, consolidate proletarian leadership. The soviet governments and Red Army and Red Guards units should prevent rich peasants from acting as committee members in the soviet governments or representatives to the soviet assemblies. They should elect leaders of the workers, farm laborers and poor peasants and the most activist elements of the middle peasants to deliberate and take action; they should also organize poor peasants to associations, unite the broad masses of poor peasants and the middle peasants in a good alliance to oppose the rich peasants. All those who have encroached on the middle peasants' interests or fined them or taken money from the poor peasants must make restitution, and the lawless exactions of brigades which have no class nature and are divorced from the masses must be opposed. If these things continue to happen, they will assuredly be punished by the authorities.

Second, put down rich peasant reaction. The rich peasants are an exploiting class, and are sure to use every available means to oppose and subvert the revolution. Accordingly, in the soviet areas, constant and strict attention should be paid to preventing rich peasant reaction; as soon as any rich peasant counterrevolutionary organization, such as the "Yungpi-tuan," etc., is found conspiring with the White bandits, plotting reactionary activity, trying to subvert the revolution, etc., the government must punish it strictly as being counter-revolutionary. The rich peasants will be allowed to live and continue their livelihood only if they obey all laws of the soviets and refrain from counterrevolutionary conspiracies or activities.

b. Economically

First, oppose exploitation by the rich peasants. At present, opposition to the rich peasants is not destruction of the rich peasants, but chiefly a resolute opposition in the economic sphere to all their exploitative activities, because these activities have increased the hardships of our workers and poor peasants. The rich peasants will be allowed to hire laborers, so long as they treat them in accordance with the Laws for Protection of Labor. They may not treat them harshly. They may also engage in business, but will not be allowed to hold back on buying or selling or to lend money at high interest. These more specific methods should be determined by the county government and preferably by the county assembly, in accordance with local conditions. A program of this sort is not meant to eradicate capitalism but to oppose cruel exploitation by capitalists and to stimulate the vigorous development of social economics. In the cases where exaction of money from the rich peasants is unavoidable, this should be done only for revolutionary needs. The rich peasants should bear what they can afford. But at present we are not eradicating the rich peasant economy. As to the rich peasants' lands, they should all be distributed evenly.

Second, an economic policy should be carried out. The limiting of rich peasant exploitation discussed above is still a passive method. But merely passive opposition to poor peasants is not enough; we must also carry out an economic policy, in accordance with the social situation, to actively oppose the rich peasants. For instance, the government should lead the masses in running loan cooperatives that lend money to the impoverished masses at low interest, in running production cooperatives to develop products, and in running trade cooperatives so as to lessen the exploitation carried on between businessmen and rich peasants. Such organizations actively oppose exploitation by rich peasants. If we help the broad impoverished masses take this step toward liberation, we are preparing social economics to develop toward socialism.

4. Guard Against Lingering Evils

Our earlier pointing out of errors in opposing middle peasants, and the statement that we are not now eradicating the rich peasants, should not lead people to take opposing the rich peasants lightly. On the contrary, everyone should understand that the policy of opposing the rich peasants and should oppose them even more intensely. In rectifying policies, we should prevent rich peasant elements and their helpers hidden in the revolution from easing up on the work of opposing the rich peasants. Even more important, the rich peasants should be prevented from taking the opportunity to oppose the government.

Hsiang Ying

Chairman Mao Tse-tung, Chu Teh, 1931
° Secret Red Bandit Documents, Correction # 5
Printed by Organization Department of First Bandit Extermination Propaganda Office, Army and Navy CHQ.

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