Directive on Counterrevolutionary Elements [Mao’s Comment
(March 11, 1951)

To all military leadership organs and military academies directly under the Central Military Commission, to the Party committees of the major military regions, to the Party committee of the Chinese People’s Volunteers, and for transmission to the Party committees of the provincial military districts:

You are hereby requested, following the example of the Party Committee of the Southwest Military Region, to conduct a new review—regardless of whether a review has been conducted in the past or not—on the following issues: the study of the four documents on suppressing counterrevolutionaries and the delivery of reports; the issue of eliminating bandits (in areas where the task of eliminating bandits exists); the issue of retaining old officers and old personnel; in addition, the issue of counterrevolutionary elements infiltrating organs and units; and the issue of maintaining secrecy. On all these issues, issue the necessary directives to your directly subordinate organs, units, and various corps, armies, and divisions, and complete the tasks within a set timeframe. We believe that drawing attention to the issue of suppressing counterrevolutionary elements in all military organs, schools, and units, and handling it correctly, is an important political task at the present stage. Anyone who neglects this task shall be subject to criticism. A copy of your reviews and directives shall be sent to the Central Military Commission.

Mao Zedong
March 11, 1951

[Note]
Refers to the telegram of March 6, 1951, from the Party Committee of the CPC Southwest Military Region on the issue of suppressing counterrevolutionaries, sent to various armies, military sub-districts, and other units, with a copy to the General Political Department of the Central Military Commission. When forwarding this telegram, Mao Zedong wrote the above comment and also added multiple annotations within the telegram.
The telegram and annotations are as follows:

Since receiving the Central Committee’s directive on suppressing counterrevolutionaries last year, the units of our military region, under the unified leadership of the Southwest Bureau, have resolutely implemented this directive. Consequently, significant achievements have been made in suppressing bandits, mobilizing the masses, and suppressing counterrevolutionaries. However, due to a lack of specialized study and arrangement within the army, such a major issue has not yet attracted widespread attention from Party committees at all levels. (Mao’s annotation: This is the case in the Southwest; I fear similar situations exist in various military regions, provinces, and armies.) Some exhibit tendencies toward “lenient punishment for serious cases,” “emphasizing disciplinary offenders over political offenders,” or “strict locally, lenient in the military” regarding counterrevolutionaries. The attitude toward old organs and old personnel is not sufficiently serious, and insufficient attention is paid to elements among them with serious problems. Phenomena of underestimating the enemy, complacency, and leaking secrets occur incessantly among Party cadres. The Military Region Party Committee believes that the above shortcomings must be rectified immediately. This not only concerns the suppression of bandits, the mobilization of the masses, and public security but is also a major issue directly related to the political and organizational purity and consolidation within the army. (Mao’s annotation: Precisely so.) Therefore, it is decided:

1. The four documents—namely, the Regulations on Punishing Counterrevolutionaries promulgated by the Central People’s Government, Comrade Peng Zhen’s report on the same issue, the editorial of the People’s Daily on February 22, and Minister Shi Liang’s special article “Resolutely and Correctly Suppress All Counterrevolutionary Activities”—must be conscientiously organized for study by cadres in all areas, and a review must be conducted in conjunction with reality. Party committees at the division and military sub-district level and above shall convey and report the results of the review to cadres inside and outside the Party respectively. Any tendency to lose vigilance against counterrevolutionaries, to mete out lenient punishment for serious cases, or even to coexist peacefully must be exposed, criticized, and rectified. (Mao’s annotation: This must be done.)

2. Continue to strengthen the campaign to eliminate bandits and capture bandit chieftains, closely integrate with mass struggles, and guard against complacency and slackness due to victories in bandit suppression. The accumulated pending cases currently in custody should be immediately organized for clearance, and sentences should be swiftly passed in accordance with the Regulations on Punishing Counterrevolutionaries. Henceforth, all cases involving the handling of bandits shall be uniformly executed by the military in coordination with local authorities, and reports shall be submitted to the major military region once a month.

3. Strengthen the work concerning retained old officers and old personnel. All units and organs shall conduct a general screening. (Mao’s annotation: Quite correct, a general screening should be conducted.) Regarding these personnel, in addition to continuing efforts to unite, win over, and reform them, individual elements among them engaged in sabotage activities must also be resolutely arrested and dealt with according to law. All counterrevolutionary elements who have infiltrated our army by feigning surrender or uprising must be promptly subjected to intensified examination and investigation, the facts clarified, and handled separately. Only by resolutely eliminating and suppressing the counterrevolutionary elements among them can we better unite and educate the majority. It is erroneous to one-sidedly emphasize education and reform while relaxing political vigilance against them. (Mao’s annotation: Quite correct, this is how it should be handled.)

4. Plans shall be made immediately for the prompt and separate handling of the special agent and local tyrant elements among the old officers and old personnel currently undergoing concentrated training but not yet dealt with in various localities; no delay is permitted. Regarding the above items three and four, the Military Region has issued separate special directives; attention should be paid to studying and implementing them.