Letter to Chen Shutong
(October 14, 1951)

Dear Venerated Mr. Shutong:'

I have received your gracious letter of October 9. Thank you. On the subject of [going to} inspect land reform, 1 agree with you.* However, on
whether or not the wintry weather would be suitable for your physical
{well-being to do this}, please give it some further consideration. It seems to
me that it would be better [if you did it} in the spring. There will still be land
reform [in progress] at that time. Furthermore, at your venerable age, it is
proper for you to go and inspect the land reform, but not for you to engage in
land reform [work yourself]. Besides, in inspecting it you can go to many
places, but if you were to engage in the work itself, you would be limited to a
district or a xiang. Another thing: it is not merely the land reform by itself, but
if your energies would allow, such other work as [in the area of] resisting the
U.S., of suppressing counterrevolutionaries, of production, of education, and
of the United Front should all be within the scope of your inspection.

I have here a report on the work among the minority nationalities of the
Northwest. You may read it and afterward return it to me.

In salute,

Mao Zedong

October 4
Notes

1. See text Dec. 18, 1950, note 1.
2. See text Mar. 18, 1951.
3. See text Feb. 18, 1951, note 1, and text Dec. 19, 1950, source note.

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