Forwarding the Southern Jiangsu Regional Party Committee’s comments on the plan to streamline “middle-level” personnel.
# Date: 1951-05-15
# Source: en:auto-trans
# Translated from: zh/1951/1951-05-15_zhuan_fa_su_nan_qu_dang_wei_guan_yu_qing_li_zhong_ceng_ji_hu.txt

Forwarding the Southern Jiangsu Regional Party Committee’s Comments on the Plan for Clearing “Middle Ranks” (May 15, 1951) To All Central Bureaus, with Copy to Sub-bureaus, Provincial Committees, Regional Party Committees, and Municipal Committees of Large and Medium-sized Cities: The issue of clearing the “middle ranks” should be addressed without delay. In addition to the forthcoming instructions from the Central Committee on this matter [1], the Southern Jiangsu Regional Party Committee’s plan of May 7 [2] and the East China Bureau’s directive telegram of May 12 to the Southern Jiangsu Regional Party Committee [3] are both excellent. Upon receipt of the Central Committee’s instructions, all central bureaus and provincial, regional, and municipal party committees are requested to draw upon this Southern Jiangsu plan as well as the previously circulated experience of the North China Revolutionary University [4] in formulating their own plans and reporting them to the Central Committee.

Mao Zedong, May 15, printed from the manuscript.

Notes [1] Refers to the CPC Central Committee’s Instruction of May 21, 1951, concerning the clearance of the “middle ranks” and “inner ranks.” See note [1] on page ___ of this volume.

[2] Refers to the May 7, 1951, plan of the CPC Southern Jiangsu Regional Committee for launching a campaign to suppress counterrevolutionaries and clear the “middle ranks” within directly affiliated organs. The plan points out that clearing the “middle ranks” is not merely an examination of cadres’ backgrounds; it also serves the educational purpose of raising the overall level of all cadres. Therefore, a more prudent and appropriate approach should be adopted—namely, conducting this work through mass study movements. The plan for clearing the “middle ranks” is broadly divided into three stages: organizing study sessions, registering confessions, and taking separate measures. First, thorough preparation must be made both ideologically and organizationally. Each organ should, under the leadership of its administrative chief and in collaboration with the organization and security departments, and with the participation of non-Party members, establish a study committee to guide the campaign to suppress counterrevolutionaries. Second, confession and registration shall be carried out. Prior to confession and registration, education on loyalty and honesty must be provided. Third, separate measures are to be taken. Based on existing materials and newly obtained information, a review shall be organized to clarify the nature and gravity of each case and to deal with it appropriately. Those who confess generally should not be arrested.

[3] Refers to the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee’s instruction of May 12, 1951, to the Southern Jiangsu Regional Party Committee regarding its plan to conduct a campaign to suppress counterrevolutionaries and clear the “middle ranks” in organs directly under the region. The instruction states: Drawing on the East China Military and Administrative Commission’s experience in examining cadres, it is advisable, up to and including the stage of formal mobilization for study and training, to refrain from arresting or executing anyone except for a few active criminals with blood debts whose execution is necessary to satisfy public indignation. This approach is highly beneficial for alleviating concerns, encouraging confessions, winning over the majority, isolating the minority, and striking at those guilty of the most heinous crimes.

[4] Refers to Liu Lantao, President of the North China Revolutionary University, and his report dated April 29, 1951, on the university’s experience in conducting the “Loyalty, Honesty, and Political Consciousness” campaign. See note [1] on page 271 of this volume.