Directive on Forwarding the Report on the Situation of the "Loyalty and Honesty, Political Self-Awareness" Movement Launched at the North China Revolutionary University
(4 May 1951)

This document[1] is to be forwarded to the East China, Central-South, South China, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast Bureaus, to serve as a reference in the work of ferreting out counter-revolutionaries in organs, schools, and military units. This experience is very useful.

Mao Zedong
4 May

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[1] Refers to the report submitted to the Central Committee on 29 April 1951 by Liu Lantao, President of the North China People's Revolutionary University, on the situation and experience of the "Loyalty and Honesty, Political Self-Awareness" movement launched at the university. The report states that the purpose of launching this movement was to draw a clear line of demarcation between revolution and counter-revolution, to relieve many students of unnecessary misgivings in their thinking so that they could study with peace of mind; at the same time, to expose and suppress counter-revolutionary elements hiding among the students, purify the student body, facilitate the winning over and reform of the majority, and consolidate the united front. The main experiences of this movement were: 1. The objective was clear—mainly to clarify the distinction between revolution and counter-revolution, not to deal with issues of ideology, lifestyle, or study attitude. 2. The principal leading cadre delivered a mobilization report, coming straight to the point and going directly to the heart of the matter, explaining the policy, and calling on those with problems to see clearly the future, trust the policy, dispel their misgivings, and make honest confessions. The principles upheld were: (i) voluntary self-awareness, no pursuit or coercion; (ii) only dealing with issues of a political nature; (iii) no rigid forms, either written or oral statements were acceptable; (iv) seeking truth from facts, neither exaggerating nor minimizing. 3. Promptly resolving the masses' misgivings, unifying understanding, distinguishing between ourselves and the enemy, drawing clear lines of demarcation, splitting and isolating the reactionary elements, and forming a mass-based superiority in support of suppressing counter-revolutionaries. 4. Organizing a strong leadership structure, exercising strict control, unified planning, frequent inspections, and coordinated steps, while also knowing when to stop. 5. For elements whose crimes were great and who still refused to confess, making a big show of it, announcing their crimes, drawing conclusions, and arresting them. Differentiating treatment among those who sincerely repented, those who did not fully repent, and those who did not repent at all.