ORDER NO 2 OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF THE
CHINESE SOVIET REPUBLIC
15 December 1935

[Text] In view of the active aggression by Japanese imperialism and the
urgency of China's situation, the workers, peasants, and patriots of the
entire nation are actively participating in the national revolutionary
struggle and resisting the Japanese aggressors and their running dogs,
Chiang Kai-shek and his gang. As a result of the rule of traitor Chiang
Kai-shek and others, China's economy has sunk into a hopeless state,
especially the rural economy, and the peasants of the entire nation have
risen to resist and riot. The rich peasants have changed their attitude
of hostility toward the soviet revolution and begun to show sympathy for
the anti-imperialist and land revolutionary struggles. To expand the
national revolutionary front to resist Japan and punish Chiang, the
Soviet Central Committee has decided to revise the policy on the rich
peasants.

(A) In regard to the land of the rich peasants, except the portion
leased to tenants at a feudalistic high rent which must be confiscated
similar to the land of the landlords, the land farmed by the rich peasants themselves or by hired help, regardless of the quality of the soil,
will not be confiscated.

(B) The movable assets and the domestic animals and farm tools of the
rich peasants, except items used for feudalistic usury, leasing, and
exploitation of the peasants, will not be confiscated.

(C) Besides the unified graduated taxes, the local governments may not
impose levies or special taxes on the rich peasants.

(D) Where the laws of the Soviet are not violated, the governments of
all levels must protect the freedom of the rich peasants to engage in
industry and commerce and to hire labor.

(E) In areas (prefectures) where all the land is equally divided by
demand of the greatest majority of the masses, the rich peasants have
the right to the same shares as the ordinary peasants.

(F) The rich peasants must be punished according to law when they
violate the laws and orders of the Soviet; when they perform counterrevolutionary activities, they must be punished according to the Provisional Regulations for the Punishment of Counterrevolutionaries.

(G) The rich peasants still have no right to join the Red Army or any
of the armed units (including the Red Guard), nor the right to vote.

(H) The Land Law and all other laws and orders promulgated previously
which conflict with this order are hereby abolished.

(I) This order becomes effective on the day of its promulgation (in noncontiguous areas, on the day of its receipt). All decisions rendered
according to previous laws before this order becomes effective will
remain valid. There may be no reversal.

Mao Tse-tung, Chairman

15 December 1935

 "Order No 2 of the Executive Committee of the Central Government of the
Chinese Soviet Republic," 15 December 1935