Report on the Current Situation[1]

(April 13, 1942)

Last winter there were two major events in the international situation: one was that the Soviet Union gained the initiative in the anti-fascist war; the other was the outbreak of the Pacific War and the entry of the United States into the war. The possibility of Japan launching an anti-Soviet war is great. If the Japan-Soviet war breaks out, the Kuomintang may launch a third anti-communist高潮, which they have been planning for a long time. This year and next will be the most difficult two years for our Party. We are prepared for a reduction in territory, population, troops, Party members, and financial and economic resources during these two years. Our difficulties are of two kinds: one is the difficulty of the anti-communist高潮, and the other is our own economic difficulty. Today’s difficulties are the darkness before dawn, the difficulties on the eve of victory. When there is no anti-communist高潮, we must carry on our work as usual and strengthen the education of cadres. When the anti-communist高潮 comes, we must cope with it, but we must not abandon education either. Under the present conditions, our cadres are rather narrow in outlook; if they do not raise their level a step higher, they will not be able to grasp the new situation in the future. Therefore, education must be strengthened for the sake of the future, and it must also be strengthened for the sake of the present. Next is the policy of better troops and simpler administration, which is aimed at overcoming difficulties. The Central Committee has appointed a downsizing committee to consider how to achieve the goal of better troops and simpler administration, how to ensure that everyone is properly placed, and this must also be integrated with the inspection of work.

[1] This is part of a report on the current situation delivered by Mao Zedong at the Central Study Group, based on the decision of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on April 11.