Commentary by the Central Committee on the Central South Bureau’s Directive Concerning the Coordination of the Three-Anti Campaign with Land-Reform Work at the Prefecture, County, and District Levels (February 11, 1952)  To the Central South Bureau and all other Central Bureaus:  The Central Committee approves all the views set forth in the Central South Bureau’s telegram of February 8, addressed to the sub-bureaus and provincial committees and copied to the Central Committee[1], and requests that the Southwest and Northwest Bureaus also consider adopting them. With regard to conducting the Three-Anti struggle at the county, district, and township levels, the Central Committee has already issued instructions stipulating that it must be carried out in a well-prepared and step-by-step manner, without interfering with the agricultural season.  In the Central South, Southwest, and Northwest regions—where land reform and its subsequent review remain serious tasks this year—the Central Committee endorses the view that “if the township level is included, the Three-Anti campaign will inevitably become a major, year-long struggle.” This is because, while it is essential not to disrupt the farming calendar, a thorough Three-Anti campaign can only be launched after land reform and its review have been completed.  In the Northeast, North China, and East China, however, it suffices to ensure: (1) that the agricultural season is not disrupted; (2) that once the Three-Anti movement has been basically concluded at the provincial, prefectural, and county levels, resources are freed up; and (3) that teams prepared to work in the countryside are ready. Under these conditions, the Three-Anti campaign can be extended to the district and township levels, and it should be possible to complete it before the autumn harvest.  Printed on February 11 by the Central Committee from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

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Note [1]: In its directive of February 8, 1952, on coordinating the Three-Anti campaign with land-reform work at the prefectural, county, and district levels, the Central South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee stated that if both land reform and the Three-Anti campaign are to be done properly, they must be conducted sequentially rather than simultaneously. Pursuing them concurrently would only result in mutual hindrance and delay. Accordingly, the Bureau recommended that each province:  1. Concentrate its efforts on carrying out the Three-Anti campaign at the provincial and municipal levels, as well as in some prefectures, and on completing the Five-Anti Campaign in large and medium-sized cities.  2. Actively postpone the Three-Anti campaign at the county and district levels until after the completion of land reform and its review.  3. Given that county-level forces are generally weak and that the leading party committees at the prefectural level must devote most of their energy to guiding land reform, this course of action is advisable.  4. During the peak farming season, production must not be interrupted. If the township level is included, the Three-Anti campaign will inevitably become a serious, year-long struggle. Neither the Three-Anti campaign nor land reform should be considered finished until both have been successfully completed.  5. Claims by certain individuals, under the pretext of operating in newly liberated areas, that county and district issues are minor and that the Three-Anti campaign can be concluded in three to five days are entirely unfounded and must be firmly refuted on principle.