Letter to Chen Shutong
(December 18, 1950)

Source: Shuxin, p- 393,

Chen (1876-1966) was a venerated “democratic personage.” He was at this time a
vice-chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and the head of the All-China
Federation of Industry and Commerce. Far more biographical information an Chen,
see tet Dec. 8, 1956, note 22:

Dear Venerated Mr. Shu{tong):'

[have received and read your letter, and have spoken with Comrades Chen
Yun and Bo Yibo’ about the matter, asking them to think about how it can be
handled. There are some five million industrial and commercial units in the
country, of which approximately three million are in the commercial area. At
a time when the economic enterprise [of the nation) as a whole is to be
switched from the old tracks to the new track of New Democracy,’ it is inevitable that large numbers of commercial firms and handicraft industrial units
Will need fo be reorganized or rechanneled into other trades. The government
should give good guidance in this matter.

Allow me to pay my respects and wish you good health,

Mao Zedong
December 18

Notes

sta pS MEE Used the term Shue lao in which the word lao (old) refers to Chen's venerated sta
“matter of common usage to attach this term to # part of the person’s personal name,
0, cme person's last, or family, name as a form of address to one's elders. See text Feb
2-Chen Yun was at this time a vice-premier of the Government Administration Council and the

tee and Minn Finance and Economics Committee. Bo was a deputy director of that commit-
. Ben. 30, 1yse | mane Of the PRC. For move biographical information on Chen and Bo, see
+ 1956, note 9, andl text Oct. 29, 1949, source note, and text Aug. 12, 1953, note 5,

y.
3.
Far the Meaning of this term, see text Jun. $5, 1953, note 2

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