(XXX briefly described the situation regarding the first of the two topics of this United Front Work conference, the <Anti-Imperialist Patriotic United Front>. When mentioning that the industrial and commercial circles, upper intellectuals, and religious circles have successively joined the Resist America, Aid Korea movement, the Chairman pointed out—)

The handling of the Buddhism issue needs to be studied, to make them participate in the movement. How to carry out Buddhist reform should be discussed with the enlightened elements among them. Some among them say they do not have the freedom to believe in Buddhism, that the temples have all been occupied. There are quite a few people who believe in Buddhism; do not ignore them. The municipality of Beijing will probably have to vacate a few temples for them. Wutai Mountain is related to the two nationalities of the Mongols and Tibetans; it probably needs to be renovated.

(The Chairman asked about the situation of the Resist America, Aid Korea movement in the Northwest and Southwest. In response that this movement has already been launched in large cities and some small cities, the Chairman instructed—)

It should be launched at this opportunity; this is a tremendous education. The merchants of a small city like Tianshui recently sent me a telegram, saying they have already held a parade and demonstration. This movement should be launched universally, popularized in all factories and villages, so that it is known to every household and everyone participates.

(When discussing how to further develop the movement, the Chairman instructed—)

You can find a few responsible comrades in this area to talk with and study it well.

(A comrade reported that during the Korean War, especially after the U.S. imperialists landed at Incheon, there were many rumors and ideological confusion, and our propaganda at the time was still insufficient. The Chairman instructed—)

In propaganda, an offensive posture should be adopted. As for spies spreading rumors, it is good to suppress them a bit.

Resisting America, land reform, and suppressing counter-revolutionaries are the three great movements of the present.

(A comrade from the Central-South reported that during land reform, peasants entering cities to arrest people affected industry and commerce. The Chairman instructed—)

It is not permissible not to arrest, and it is not permissible to arrest too many. Bandit leaders and local tyrants must be arrested, but they should be arrested legally. (Comrades from the Central-South and the two Souths reported that Wuhan and the Southwest have established urban liaison groups and rent reduction and deposit refund mediation committees as organs to appropriately handle urban liaison issues in land reform and rent reduction and deposit refunds. The Chairman instructed—)

It is good to establish such organs. They should be established in all cities with a population of several tens of thousands or more (whether to establish them in county seats can be considered), and the democratic parties should participate, with management by the municipal government. Distinguish those who can be arrested and arrest them, and do not arrest those who cannot be arrested. Give consideration to both sides and resolve matters reasonably to avoid a state of anarchy. Deposits must be refunded, and this can also be discussed through such organs. How much to refund should be handled appropriately; if more can be refunded, then refund more; if more cannot be refunded, then refund a lesser amount as appropriate.

(The Chairman asked about the situation in East China. The response was that the situation in various places in Southern Jiangsu is now better. The Chairman said—)

Mr. Huang Yanpei is preparing to go to Southern Jiangsu to see the land reform. I said to him: It is very good for you to go and see. You can hear the opinions of three sides: the leading cadres at all levels, the peasants, and the landlords and rich peasants.

(Comrades from various regions reported that some local comrades still have misgivings about democratic personages going on inspection tours. The Chairman instructed—)

When democratic personages go to various places to inspect, the localities should not regard this as a burden. Let them go and listen to the peasants' grievances and see the peasants' joy. If we have any shortcomings and mistakes, we can also let them see. This is a beneficial matter. The Zhuangyuan examination is held once every three years, but land reform is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. They should be welcomed to come and see.

(Local comrades reported a lack of a positive and welcoming attitude toward the inspections and criticisms of democratic personages. The Chairman further instructed—)

Distributing land, suppressing counter-revolutionaries, and mobilizing the masses are all good things. The single item of land reform was never done from Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, the Duke of Zhou, and Confucius down to Sun Yat-sen; only we have done it. What bad things have we done? What is there to be afraid of people seeing? Of ten fingers, nine are good, and at most only one finger is not good. You should not underestimate the democratic personages. You must know that with the exception of local tyrants, bandit leaders, and special agents, we should adopt a positive attitude toward industrialists and businessmen, religious circles, school principals, teachers, enlightened gentry, and patriotic elements, to unite and educate them. We must absolutely not ignore them, but must adopt a positive attitude. This method has been tried and tested repeatedly, and the results are always good. All negative attitudes are wrong. If they have something to say, they should be allowed to say it. It is fine even if they write a ten-thousand-word memorial; we can show it to everyone, accept what is good, and explain what is not. What if someone sees a fault and wants to curse? The Communist Party is not even afraid of imperialism, so is it afraid of being cursed by people? Democratic personages must be educated and allowed to participate in activities. If they are not educated and are not kept informed of matters, this is wrong.

(Regarding the second topic of the United Front conference, namely the issue of the organizational development of the various democratic parties, the Chairman instructed—)

This issue must be properly resolved; otherwise, what we do and what we say will be inconsistent, and those below will be inconsistent with us, which would not be good. Last year it was said to consolidate; this year it is said to develop. If this year is still just about consolidation, that will not do. Because their strata and personages exist in society, they should therefore develop. Of China's 475 million people, all the democratic parties have fewer than 20,000 members. Doubling that this year would still be only 40,000, which is not many. A few points should be written on this issue to provide guidance. The democratic parties should be made to progress in the movement, and they should be given a free hand to do their work. The advantages are many and the disadvantages are few. This is a positive and beneficial policy.

(Comrades from various regions reported that regarding the issue of the development of democratic parties, some local cadres still have certain ideological obstacles, and without strong support from the Party committee, it would not be easy to implement. The Chairman instructed—)

...The entire Party should be made to understand that the democratic parties and democratic personages can make progress. The 23rd Army Corps of Suiyuan has recently been transferred to Central Hebei. The army and division commanders of this unit are all the original people who fought many battles with us in the past. If even this unit can make progress, why can't the democratic parties and democratic personages make progress? We should adopt a positive attitude to handle this; do not be afraid of trouble. They must be made to understand that resisting America, land reform, and suppressing counter-revolutionaries are necessary, and they must be made to participate. Running a state political power always involves trouble; if you are afraid of trouble, then just don't have political power. In the past, when we sought out the democratic parties and democratic personages, they would not come. Now they have come, and you are afraid of trouble.

(XXX mentioned that the work of the United Front departments themselves still lacks a set of regulations, and this conference is preparing to draft a few articles. The Chairman instructed—)

It is good to have provisions for the structure, tasks, scope, and methods of the United Front departments. It would be good for the United Front departments to be organized down to the prefectural Party committee level. How to do it should also be studied.

(A comrade reported that the Chairman said last year that those who pay attention to United Front work are still a minority within the Party, and this state has not changed much in some regions this year. The Chairman instructed—)

This minority faction is correct. As long as it adheres to land reform and suppressing counter-revolutionaries, this is not right-deviationism; this is Marxism. A positive attitude must be used to organize democratic personages and democratic parties, educate them, have them participate in the struggle, and lead them to advance together. This is beneficial to the laboring people and beneficial to entering socialism. The minority faction will gradually expand, mainly by relying on properly persuading others. Two United Front conferences should be held every year, one large and one small. This should be the case for all Central Bureaus down to the district Party committees. Do not blame others; only blame yourselves for not recruiting soldiers and horses, and not accumulating grass and grain. Do not let yourselves fall into isolation; you must produce good results for everyone to see. You must properly obtain the help of the Party committee secretaries and the organization and propaganda departments, and be good at building up our country through the Party committees and the responsible comrades of the Party committees. Some experts must emerge from among you, who are familiar with personages and history, and are well-versed in the ways of this field.

(A comrade from the Central-South proposed that the suppression of counter-revolutionary elements should be distinguished from the struggle against local tyrants in land reform. The Chairman said—)

On this issue, Comrade XXX has already issued an instruction. The report from the 47th Army in Jiangxi to the Central Committee states that in more than one month, in over twenty counties, XXX bandit leaders were killed, receiving the cheers of the common people. (The Chairman has already endorsed this report for circulation to the major administrative regions for reading and has instructed all comrades at the meeting to read it.)