Comment No. 1
(January 15, 1952)

To the major military regions, the Chinese People's Volunteers, and to be forwarded to military regions at all levels and all armies; to all central bureaus, and to be forwarded to sub-bureaus and provincial, municipal, and district party committees:

I have read the report from the Guizhou Military Region dated January 10, as well as some reports from other places. They give one the feeling that in many places (including many military units) the struggle against the three evils has not yet been truly launched. In these reports, one cannot see the exposure of large numbers of embezzlers or the fierce eruption of mass struggle. The Guizhou Military Region is vastly different; there, the mass struggle has been truly launched, and large numbers of embezzlers have been exposed. In any system, whether party, government, military, or civilian, and in any organ, wherever large quantities of money and materials are handled, there are bound to be large numbers of embezzlers. In many organs, democracy is suppressed, and the masses harbor deep grievances and indignation. In some organs, bureaucratism is extremely serious, the leaders are divorced from the masses, and the situation is in an appalling state. All of this must be thoroughly exposed before the problems can be resolved. Please use the Guizhou report as a standard to examine the reports from your subordinate units. Do not believe any reports that are perfunctory and inconsequential.

Mao Zedong
January 15