Central Instructions and Reply to the Southwest Bureau’s Report on Suppressing Counterrevolutionary Activities [1] (November 15, 1950) To the East China Bureau, the Central-South Bureau, the South China Sub-Bureau, the Northwest Bureau, the North China Bureau, and the Northeast Bureau: We consider the Southwest Bureau’s analysis of the counterrevolutionary situation in the Southwest and its plan for dealing with it, dated November 10, to be very good. It is hereby transmitted to you for your reference and action, and may also be forwarded to the provincial and municipal party committees under your jurisdiction for their information. The Central Committee November 15 To the Southwest Bureau: The analysis of the counterrevolutionary situation in the Southwest and the corresponding plan for handling it, dated November 10, are excellent and should be implemented immediately. This document should be sent to the provincial and municipal party committees as well as the prefectural party committees for their perusal, so that they may fully understand the overall situation and the comprehensive plan. Your documents and Deng Xiaoping’s report [2] have already been forwarded to all central bureaus for their reference. The Central Committee November 15 Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript. Notes [1] Refers to the report submitted by the CPC Southwest Bureau to the Central Committee on November 10, 1950, containing an analysis of the counterrevolutionary activities in the Southwest and a plan for their suppression. The report states that feudal forces in the Southwest are particularly strong, and that this region was long cultivated by Chiang Kai-shek before his ultimate defeat. Bandits and spies are closely colluding with these feudal elements, resulting in extremely serious counterrevolutionary activities. Especially since the landing of U.S. imperialist forces at Incheon, Korea, counterrevolutionary activities have become even more rampant throughout the area. Led by dispatched and clandestinely operating bandits and spies, and based on reactionary feudal forces, these elements, utilizing gangsters and other riffraff, have adopted dispersed, covert, small-group operations and uprisings to launch a full-scale offensive against us from both urban and rural areas, as well as from inland regions and border zones. Accordingly, the proposed plan for suppressing counterrevolutionary activities is as follows: (1) Clear out prisoners; those guilty of heinous crimes deserving of death shall be executed without hesitation or compromise. Others with grave offenses are to be sentenced to imprisonment or detention. Those with lesser offenses may be released under proper supervision. (2) Continue registering bandits and spies. Any escaped bandit leaders or counterrevolutionaries who have falsely surrendered must be arrested and dealt with appropriately—executed, imprisoned, or placed under surveillance—as the circumstances require. (3) Execute notorious local tyrants guilty of grievous crimes. (4) Execute certain opium traffickers and heads of secret societies. (5) Each counterrevolutionary element must be handled through careful analysis, employing strategic distinctions and differentiated treatment, in order to suppress counterrevolutionary forces and disintegrate and divide the enemy. [2] Refers to the comprehensive report submitted by Deng Xiaoping, First Secretary of the CPC Southwest Bureau, to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee on November 7, 1950. See note [1] on page of this volume.

Telegram Regarding the Forwarding of the Fourth Briefing on Bandit Suppression by the Southwest Military Region (November 16, 1950)