Directive Comment on How to Treat Members of the Democratic Parties
(March 23, 1951)

To all Central Bureaus, and forward to Sub-Bureaus, Provincial Party Committees, Municipal Party Committees of large and medium cities, and District Party Committees:

Regarding matters such as the registration, examination, arrest, and interrogation of members of the various democratic parties with organizational affiliations in the suppression of counter-revolutionaries, the East China Bureau issued a document on March 9[I] providing clear stipulations. The Central Committee deems these to be correct, and all provinces and municipalities may act accordingly.

The Central Committee
March 23

[I] Refers to the directive issued by the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on March 9, 1951, to the Shandong Sub-Bureau and the Party committees of various provinces, municipalities, and districts on how to treat members of the democratic parties in the suppression of counter-revolutionaries. The directive pointed out: During the registration of reactionary party, league, and special service elements in Shanghai, the Public Security Bureau mobilized members of friendly parties to register, and even arrested members of friendly parties without sufficient evidence. This matter has now been stopped. Similar incidents have also occurred in other parts of East China and should be corrected promptly. According to the instructions of the Central Ministry of Public Security, generally, those who have joined various democratic parties should not be registered, so as to avoid unnecessary or even harmful disturbances. As for hidden counter-revolutionary elements within the democratic parties, they should be resolved through reconnaissance, not through registration. All localities must earnestly comply with and implement this. Historical issues of members of friendly parties should be resolved by the friendly parties themselves as matters of cadre examination and handled on their own. Flagrant offenders within the friendly parties may be arrested, but the evidence must be conclusive. For other special service elements and counter-revolutionary elements against whom there is evidence, arrests may only be made after consultation and decision between the public security departments and the United Front Work Departments. For the interrogation of flagrant offenders and other counter-revolutionary elements, the participation of personnel from their respective parties should be sought to the greatest extent possible.