Commentary on the Wutai County Party Committee’s Report Regarding the Launch of a Movement to Return Illegally Obtained Property [1] (March 13, 1952) All units are requested to earnestly organize corrupt officials to return stolen goods, ensuring that the effort is carried through to completion and does not peter out midway. Mao Zedong March 13 Based on the manuscript for publication. Notes [1] Refers to the report submitted on March 3, 1952, by the Wutai County Party Committee of the Communist Party of China in Shanxi Province to the Central Committee, the North China Bureau, the provincial committee, and the prefectural committee, detailing the situation and experiences related to launching a movement to return illegally obtained property. The report noted that during the anti-corruption campaign, many corrupt officials—especially those who had committed major offenses—were reluctant to return their ill-gotten gains, with some even openly resisting such efforts. This indicated that compelling corrupt officials to return their stolen assets was no simple task but rather a fierce class struggle that required a more decisive approach. Regarding the experience gained in launching this movement, the report summarized the following points: 1) A vigorous ideological struggle must be waged to address the mindset of corrupt officials who refuse to return their ill-gotten wealth. 2) The masses should be fully mobilized, family members should be effectively engaged, small-time corrupt officials should be won over, and resolute action should be taken against recalcitrant elements. 3) Policies should be repeatedly explained, and exemplary cases should be used to demonstrate their effectiveness. 4) Methods should be employed to utilize corrupt officials themselves in exposing the secrets of other corrupt individuals—specifically, information regarding hidden stolen funds and property.£³ ６