The Various Policies That Should Be Carried
Out in the Anti-Japanese Base Areas

(December 13, 1940)

To the Central China Bureau, and for the information of the Northern Bureau, the
Shandong Subbureau, the Southeastern Bureau, the Southern Bureau, and the Southern Committee:

1. When organizing organs of political power and organs reflecting public opinion in northern Jiangsu, the "three-thirds" system should be resolutely carried out.
Communist Party members should constitute only one-third, and it could even be
fewer than one-third at the beginning. Enlist the participation of all leaders of
every party and faction, and of those not affiliated with any party or faction, who
are not actively anti-Communist. The middle and leftist factions of the Guomindang
should be included. Members of the national bourgeoisie, such as Han Guojun,¹ as
well as enlightened landlords, should all participate. A few representatives of the
rightists may also be allowed. In this way a united political power of all parties,
factions, social groups, and armies can truly be organized, making every effort to
avoid our being responsible for everything. This will have a great influence throughout the country.
2. Vigorously avoid ultraleftism in the labor policy. Carry out only minor reforms for now. For example, reduce the fourteen-hour workday to thirteen hours
or twelve hours, but do not implement the eight-hour system, so as to guarantee
that the capitalists can still make money.
3. With regard to the land policy, a partial reduction in rent and interest should
be carried out so as to win over the basic masses of the peasantry, but the reduction
should not be too great. Do not make it impossible for peasants to borrow money
because of the reduction in the interest rate. Do not confiscate the land of the
landlords by canceling old debts. At the same time, peasants should be required to
pay rent and interest, landlords' ownership of the land should be guaranteed, and
in principle management by the rich peasants should not be changed. It must be
made clear within the Party as well as to the peasants that this is not the time to

***
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 6, p. 219, where it is reproduced
from Wannan shibian.
¹ Shaoxiong is an alternative ming for Huang Shaohong.
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 320-21, where it is reproduced
from Mao's handwritten manuscript.
¹ Regarding Han, see the relevant note to the text of October 14, 1940.