Comments on the Proposal to Establish the Soldiers’ Representative Assembly as a Regular Institution (January 18, 1952) To Comrade Chen Yi [1], with copy to the leading comrades of the major military regions, the Chinese People’s Volunteers, and the central bureaus: Your report of January 16 [2] has been received.  (1) The Three-Anti Campaign should be conducted in the three stages you have outlined. However, please note that in the second stage particular emphasis must be placed on exhausting all efforts to uncover every case of corruption, large and small; it is better to err on the side of overestimation than underestimation—whatever the extent of corruption may be, it should be brought to light. Special attention should be given to identifying major corrupt officials; the work should not be halted until this objective is achieved. On February 10, when the campaign transitions into reorganization, a special body must continue to pursue major corruption cases and resolve outstanding issues. This point is of utmost importance; all major military regions are requested to take heed.  (2) I fully concur with the proposal to institutionalize the soldiers’ representative assembly as a regular forum, to be convened monthly or bi-monthly for one to two days, with two principal items on the agenda: consideration of the leadership’s self-criticism report and review of the financial and economic report. This suggestion is most excellent and can help sustain the vigor of mass democratic struggle after the Three-Anti Campaign. You and Comrade Tang Liang [3] are therefore requested to draft a few simple, concrete measures and telegraph them to the Central Committee for consideration and decision, followed by promulgation and implementation. The party committees of the major military regions and the Chinese People’s Volunteers are also invited to deliberate on this matter and to communicate their views promptly by telegram.  (3) This report by Comrade Chen Yi is hereby circulated to the leading comrades of the major military regions and the Chinese People’s Volunteers for their reference. Mao Zedong January 18 Printed from the manuscript.

Notes [1] Chen Yi was at the time Commander of the East China Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. [2] Refers to Chen Yi’s report dated January 16, 1952, addressed to Mao Zedong, the General Political Department of the Central Military Commission, and the East China Bureau, concerning the phased implementation of the Three-Anti Campaign within the East China forces and the proposal to establish the soldiers’ representative assembly as a regular institution. The report states that the Three-Anti plan for the East China forces is divided into three stages: the first stage involves mobilizing the masses to scrutinize the leadership, thereby fostering close unity between the leadership and the rank and file. Without first examining the leadership, it will be impossible to effectively engage the officers and men in the Three-Anti Campaign. The second stage consists of a comprehensive investigation and confession of corrupt practices. The third stage focuses on streamlining and economizing, leading into reorganization. To maintain the democratic spirit of the masses and prevent corruption within the troops, the report further recommends institutionalizing the soldiers’ representative assembly as a regular mechanism, meeting once a month for one to two days to review the leadership’s self-criticism report and financial reports, among other matters. [3] Tang Liang was at the time Deputy Director of the Political Department of the East China Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.