Circular on Two Outstanding Experiences in the Work of Suppressing Counterrevolutionaries

(April 10, 1951)

To all central bureaus, and forward to sub-bureaus, large and medium-sized city [municipal party committees], and district party committees:

According to a report from the Central Ministry of Public Security dated March 22, there have been two outstanding experiences in the recent period of suppressing counterrevolutionaries:

First, the planned and prepared large-scale simultaneous arrest of large numbers of counterrevolutionary elements within the same time frame. Practical actions in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Pingyuan, and Chahar have proven this to be an effective and indispensable step in rounding up social counterrevolutionaries. This method deals the greatest blow to the enemy, profoundly educates the masses, and causes relatively little social disturbance. As long as the principles of thorough preparation, accurate targeting, strict organization, unified command, swift action, strict discipline, and timely propaganda are upheld, it can be guaranteed that no wrongful arrests will occur, and the support of the masses and social sympathy will be won.

Second, the experiences of cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Zhangjiakou have proven that convening enlarged meetings of city-level and district-level representative conferences from all walks of life and consultative committees, with the participation of many representatives from various democratic parties, democratic personages, ethnic minorities, religious circles, and industrial and commercial sectors, to expose the crimes of counterrevolutionaries, publicize the policy of suppressing counterrevolutionaries, dispel the ideological misgivings of democratic personages, and mobilize all strata to resolutely suppress counterrevolutionaries, is a successful method. Summarizing the experiences of these several localities:

1. Responsible leading officials personally preside over the meetings, public security organs deliver reports on the situation of suppressing counterrevolutionaries, and case introductions are made in a prepared and categorized manner, introducing only major cases and principal culprits, not all offenders. Use living persons and real events to explain policies, 2£³

arouse hatred for counterrevolutionaries, and win the support of people from all walks of life.

2. Exhibit at the meetings the criminal evidence, photographs, case files, confessions, and concrete proof of counterrevolutionaries to dispel all kinds of doubts.

3. Make thorough preparations before the meetings and uphold principles during the meetings. For cases where execution has already been decided, firmly insist on no changes.

4. Combine efforts from above and below, mobilize the strength of the masses, and persuade democratic personages.

5. Adopt differentiated approaches: patiently explain to those who sincerely support but have misgivings to raise their awareness; use irrefutable factual evidence to leave those with ulterior motives with nothing to say.

We believe this approach should be promoted, and so forth.

These two points are very well summarized. Please pay attention and act accordingly.

Mao Zedong
April 10

Printed based on the manuscript.