Telegram to Deng Xiaoping [1] Regarding the Proposal to Convene Another Urban Work Conference (January 22, 1951) Comrade Xiaoping, with copies to Comrades Shuishi, Zikui, Zhongxun, Yibo, and Gao Gang [2]: We have received and carefully studied your comprehensive report of January 8 [3]. The guiding principles are correct, and the achievements are substantial, which gives us great satisfaction.
Your first urban work conference was successful and very well conducted.
If feasible, we request that you convene another urban work conference before May 1 of this year to conduct an in-depth examination of urban work—primarily trade union work—on the direction of leadership over industry and commerce, and on issues concerning urban state power, and to reach certain decisions, thereby preparing materials for the Fourth Plenary Session’s discussion of trade union work.
The Fourth Plenary Session is scheduled to be held in May; please arrange your work accordingly.
Mao Zedong January 22 Based on the manuscript.
Notes

[1] Deng Xiaoping was then First Secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. [2] Shuishi refers to Rao Shushi, who at the time served as First Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Zikui refers to Deng Zikui, then Third Secretary of the Central South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Zhongxun refers to Xi Zhongxun, who was First Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Yibo refers to Bo Yibo, then First Secretary of the North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Gao Gang was at that time Secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.


[ ] Refers to Deng Xiaoping’s report dated January 8, 1951, to Mao Zedong and to the Central Committee regarding the work of the CPC Southwest Bureau during November and December.
The report focused on the progress of the rural rent-reduction and deposit-return campaigns, as well as on the proceedings of the first urban work conference.
With respect to rent reduction and deposit return, the primary concern at present remains preventing a hesitant, timid approach that fails to fully mobilize the masses, alongside tendencies toward bureaucratic micromanagement and commandism, so as to avoid “half-cooked results” and “reversals.”
Once the wave of deposit returns has largely subsided and most deposits have been returned, it will be important to promptly shift to a phase of cleanup and persuasion, adopting differentiated policies toward medium- and small-scale landlords.
As for urban work, a special urban work conference has already been convened.
The main outcome of this meeting is that henceforth we will intensify our study and guidance of urban affairs.
During the conference, there was a strong critique of the relatively widespread attitude within the Party of looking down upon workers, and it was clearly stated that reliance on the working class must become the Party’s guiding principle and be thoroughly implemented in all lines of work and all departments.