To Comrade Xie Juezai[1]

(August 5, 1941)

I have forwarded all your letters to Comrades Bishi, Wang Ming, Gao Gang, and Chen Zhengren for their perusal, so that they may gain a fuller understanding of you. They are all willing to engage in more discussions with you and Elder Lin, and they all wish to improve matters and relations. Indeed, it is necessary to exchange views more frequently, to talk and chat more, in order to achieve thorough understanding; otherwise, it is very easy to lean toward one side. The same applies to gathering information about conditions at the lower levels—one must deliberately (even against one’s own inclination) collect opposing materials. In my experience, by using this method, many times what I previously considered correct later proved to be incorrect, and I adopted a new viewpoint. To view problems objectively is precisely what the venerable Confucius meant by “no preconceptions, no arbitrary certainty, no obstinacy, no egoism.” The spirit of your letter of the 3rd is consistent with this, and I hope you will further elaborate on it. This debate has been beneficial both to the Border Region and to the individuals involved. If each side sets aside its biases, unity of understanding will be achieved. In handling matters, we should seek only what is “right”; petty grievances are but fleeting clouds. Much of the past “grievances” were stirred up unnecessarily, which was truly inappropriate. Having heard a great deal about this, I wished to be informed and to participate, striving to achieve the goal of “harmony being most precious.” Now, understanding of the issues is drawing closer, and matters are becoming easier to handle. It would be very good to summarize the work of the Border Region in a short period; please prepare materials and opinions. As you are unwell, you must not overwork yourself; for the time being, it is best to focus mainly on recuperation.

[1] Xie Juezai was then Deputy Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government, and Secretary-General of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government. This is the main content of Mao Zedong’s letter to Xie Juezai.