Commentary on the East China Military Region Party Committee’s Notification Regarding the Three-Anti Campaign Among Nanjing Troops (January 15, 1952) To the Major Military Regions and the Chinese People’s Volunteers, with copies forwarded to all levels of military regions and corps; also to be brought to the attention of the Central Bureaus:

Having read the report of the East China Military Region Party Committee dated January 13 [1], I am greatly pleased. The policy is correct, and the momentum is strong. I hope the entire army will follow this example.

Reports from all subordinate units should be examined against this standard. Any that are superficial, perfunctory, or merely a cover-up indicate that their leaders are either bureaucratists or corrupt elements; such reports should be immediately criticized.

The East China Military Region’s special quick reports on the Three-Anti Campaign are very good. I have already reviewed four issues and request that some be sent to the Central-South and North China regions for their reference.

Mao Zedong January 15 Based on the manuscript for publication.

Notes [1] Refers to the notification issued on January 13, 1952, by the CPC East China Military Region Committee to party committees at all levels, commanders of various units, and to Mao Zedong, the General Political Department of the Central Military Commission, and the East China Bureau, concerning the situation and experience of the Three-Anti Campaign among Nanjing troops. The notification describes how the Nanjing troops, after studying the Beijing Three-Anti experience as relayed by the central authorities, advanced the campaign by setting deadlines for self-confession and denunciation, publicly criticizing individuals by name, and even suspending certain leading cadres for investigation. It outlines specific experiences: First, combine leadership with the masses. Leaders should conduct self-criticism and personally go among the troops to propagate and mobilize, organizing active elements to speak. Second, be vigilant against and rectify attempts by bureaucratists to suppress democracy—under the pretext of maintaining meeting discipline, order of speaking, or respect for superiors—in order to allow corrupt and wasteful elements to slip through the net. Third, allow anyone who speaks up actively to do so, regardless of their motives. Fourth, do not rush to distinguish between corruption and waste. Fifth, in the early stages of the campaign, it is necessary to make frequent use of measures such as removal from office for investigation, suspension pending review, and even arrest.