To Comrade Xi Zhongxun, with copies to all Central Bureaus, Military Regions, and responsible comrades of the Chinese People’s Volunteers: (1) We have received your report dated February 14 [2], which is excellent and should be forwarded for reference by all concerned. Regarding the anti-tiger budget, the Central-South Bureau recently proposed a plan to capture eight thousand big tigers, the highest figure nationwide. Your region and others may use this plan as a reference to increase their budgets accordingly; however, since your budget has just been announced, it would be advisable to gain more experience over a period of time before making further increases. (2) The anti-tiger budgets and related work in all military regions must be under the unified leadership of the Central Bureaus, sub-bureaus, provincial/city/county party committees, and local party committees; otherwise, it will be counterproductive. You have already paid attention to this point, which is commendable. (3) The principle of “better to let a guilty person go free than to wrongly convict an innocent one, preventing coerced confessions” is very well stated. As the campaign reaches its peak, it is crucial to remind all comrades of this important guideline. (4) Your regulation requiring approval from two levels above for imposing prison sentences, with life imprisonment and capital punishment subject to approval by the Administrative-Military Committee of the larger administrative region, is appropriate. However, regarding dismissal and arrest, it would be more practical to generally require approval from two levels above. During the intense phase of the “anti-tiger” campaign, there may be cases that need prompt handling; under conditions of solid evidence, trusted leaders and their organizations should be granted the authority to take immediate action, followed by subsequent reporting and ratification. Mao Zedong February 17 Printed from the manuscript.

Notes [1] Xi Zhongxun was then Second Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. [ ] Refers to Xi Zhongxun’s report dated February 14, 1952, addressed to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee, concerning the Northwest Region’s new anti-tiger budget and the measures to be taken. The report stated that the region planned to capture thirteen thousand tigers, including one thousand three hundred big tigers. To achieve this goal, the following steps were essential: first, to engage in a resolute struggle against rightist tendencies; second, to ensure unified leadership by the party committee, with clear division of responsibilities among various systems and departments, neither aspect to be neglected; third, to provide close guidance and strict control, adhering to the principle of “better to let a guilty person go free than to wrongly convict an innocent one,” thereby preventing coerced confessions. Dismissals, arrests, and prison sentences must be approved by authorities two levels above. Authority to impose life imprisonment and the death penalty rests solely with the Administrative-Military Committee. Fourth, special attention should be paid to uncovering corruption in remote corners. Finally, the regional authorities plan to hold a public trial session to publicly prosecute several major embezzlers involved in cases exceeding 100 million yuan, demonstrating the policy stance and further advancing the anti-tiger campaign.

Letter to Gao Gang [2] Regarding the Dispatch of Chen Boda [1] to Northeast China to Investigate the Five-Anti Campaign Situation (February 17, 1952)