Some Problems in Correcting Errors in Our
Mass Work
(April 11, 1946)
To Comrade Chen Yi:1
We have taken note of your telegram of the 7th. Regarding correcting mistakes
in our mass work, our suggestions are as follows:
	 1.	 There are two kinds of errors in our mass work. The first kind is apolitical villages and commandism. An apolitical village is the result of right deviationists completely failing to mobilize the people. Commandism means
giving the appearance of actively mobilizing the masses, when actually the
method involves a few running the whole show and forcing the others to
obey. The result is still an apolitical village, but worse yet, it has a negative
effect on the people. All such errors should be carefully investigated and corrected wherever they occur.
	 2.	 The second kind of error involves the Party overdoing things in leading the
mass struggle; that is to say, “Leftist” errors. Among other things, we must
first take note of violations of the rights of the middle peasants, which must
be corrected the moment they are discovered. We have also gone too far
in attacking the rich peasants and the medium and small landowners over
and above the necessity of reducing land rent and lowering interest rates on
loans. We must attend to this and correct it at the right moment.
	 3.	 As for severely punishing Chinese traitors, despotic gentry, local tyrants,
and reactionary elements, as long as it is truly an action by the masses, it is
not an error but a necessity. Despotic gentry and landlords in the major cities
inevitably will make a lot of noise, but we absolutely must not be affected
by it. But when the battle by the masses has been won, the accounts settled,
and the rents lowered, the Party should advise the people that the policy
toward the landowners should change from fighting them to winning them
over. For example, let the runaway landowners return home, provide them
with an opportunity to earn a living, and contact the enlightened gentry to
participate in some work, and so forth. The purpose of the policy of winning
them over is absolutely necessary to reduce the opposition so as to mitigate
tensions. But it will not be good to win them over too early—that would hurt
the interests of the people and affect their mood.
	 4.	 As long as it truly is a mass movement, when we correct “Leftist” errors,
that is, when we correct the actions by cadres and people who have gone to
extremes in their behavior toward the middle and rich peasants and medium
and small landowners, we must with goodwill and warmth win over those
who have erred so that they happily correct these errors on their own initiative and find a way to make up for them. We definitely should never pour
cold water on them and absolutely never make them feel disheartened.
	 5.	 You are quite right to say in your telegram that we should gradually correct errors following the principle of recognizing and not abrogating the
established rights of the peasants and not weakening the enthusiasm of the
masses. The mass struggle in Shandong and elsewhere is developing and its
achievements are great; there have been many errors but the future is bright.
	 6.	 We must reduce land rent and fight treason by thoroughly settling accounts
with the traitors. Both must be done. We must study the specific work content in each area and we must be skillful in leadership to allow broad-based
development of the mass struggle while at the same time knowing when and
where to stop. This should be done rationally, beneficially, and moderately.
	 7.	 The points made in this telegram should be made widely known to our comrades in every area. Please transmit excerpts to the Party committee and land
committee in each district if you deem it necessary.
The Central Committee

--- Notes

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 4, pp. 103–5, where it is reproduced
from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.

1.  Chen Yi was deputy secretary of the East China Bureau of the Central Committee
of the Chinese Communist Party as well as commander of the New Fourth Army and the
Shandong Military Region.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-108