Letter to He Kaifeng 1
(April 22, 1943)
Comrade Kaifeng:
You have written several letters to me that I have not yet returned. My response
is as follows:
1. It is not yet suitable to raise the question of petty-bourgeois liberalism on
May 5 of this year. As far as the whole Party is concerned, the present is still the
time to allow liberalism to expose itself; it is not yet suitable to come to a general
conclusion. On May 5, perhaps the Propaganda Department of the Central
Committee might issue something summarizing rectification study in general,
thereby propelling forward the rectification of the entire Party: Please think about
this suggestion.
2. I have decided not to celebrate birthdays. Too many birthday celebrations
will have an unhealthy influence. The present is a difficult time both domestically
and abroad; it is also not an opportune moment. I personally feel that my
(Marxist-Leninist) ideology is not mature; it is still the time for learning, not
trumpeting or promulgating. If there must be such trumpeting, the only
appropriate objects would be a few fragments (such as a few essays from the
rectification documents). It is inappropriate to trumpet it as a system, because my
system is not yet mature.
3. It is best temporarily to stop the educational plan for senior and middle-level
cadres as you suggested yesterday and first to engage in education for the
elimination of traitors so as to coordinate with the current work of eliminating
traitors. I have already replied to your letter from yesterday.
4. I agree with the idea that this year the Propaganda Department’s work will
concentrate on three items: educating cadres, educating citizens, and the literary

and artistic movement. However, a few people must be gathered to translate and
write (translate the works of Marx and Lenin and write history); hopefully they
will achieve something. Please consider the above. There will be a Propaganda
Committee meeting tomorrow as planned.
Salutations!
Mao Zedong
Notes

--- Notes

Our source for this document is Mao Zedong shuxin xuanji, pp. 212–13, where it is reproduced from the
manuscript.

1. He Kaifeng, see above, note to the text of January 17, 1942.