Central Committee’s Comment Transmitting the Northwest Bureau’s Directive on Gansu Work
(May 16, 1950)

East China Bureau, Central-South Bureau, Southwest Bureau, North China Bureau:

Hereby transmit to you the Northwest Bureau’s directive on Gansu work. This is a situation that well merits attention, and the Northwest Bureau has adopted correct countermeasures in response. Please watch the developments in your own areas and take timely and appropriate countermeasures.

Central Committee
May 16

[1]
The Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee pointed out in its May 13, 1950 directive on Gansu work that incidents of mass disturbances and conspiratorial insurrections by bandits and special agents have occurred successively in Pingliang, Haiyuan, Guyuan, Quanlan and other places in Gansu. The occurrence of such incidents in areas of the Northwest where Hui and Han peoples live intermingled should arouse serious vigilance. The directive proposed that, in order to reverse the chaotic situation, the Gansu Provincial Committee be asked to swiftly and resolutely carry out the following six requirements:

(1) The Provincial Committee should immediately consult with the Field Army Headquarters, dispatch responsible cadres, allocate necessary troops to assist work in all areas where incidents have already occurred or are likely to occur, and convene consultative conferences with the participation of representative figures from the upper and middle strata of all ethnic groups and circles, to discuss solutions for the incidents that have occurred and those that may occur;

(2) Organize consultative committees with the participation of representative figures from all ethnic groups and circles, and appoint persons from minority nationalities to carry out work;

(3) Draft an overall plan for the struggle against conspiratorial armed rebellions by enemy special agents throughout the region;

(4) Assemble superior forces to thoroughly eliminate the armed forces of bandits and special agents that continue to resist stubbornly;

(5) At present, the basic guideline for Gansu work remains to concentrate all efforts on clearing out bandits, purging special agents, uniting the people of all ethnic groups, deepening mass work, stabilizing public order, and restoring production; whether to carry out land reform this year must be carefully considered;

(6) Pay close attention to training and rectifying cadres, strictly examine the conduct of cadres, and correct deviations in policy implementation.