Central Committee Endorsement of the Light Industry Ministry’s Report on Conducting Comprehensive Declarations of Economic and Social Ties Among Party and Non-Party Cadres (April 17, 1952) To the General Party Committee directly under the Central Committee, the three sub-committees,[1] all departments of the Central Committee and the Military Commission, and the Party Leading Groups of the various ministries of the Central People’s Government; to all Central Bureaus, Sub-bureaus, and provincial, municipal, and regional Party committees, with further transmission to county-level Party committees; to all major military regions and the Volunteer Army Party Committee, with further transmission to all levels of military region and corps/division Party committees; and to local government Party leading groups and the Party leading groups of all people’s organizations:

(1) We are hereby transmitting for your reference one copy of the report dated April 2 from the Party Group of the Central Light Industry Ministry concerning the launch of a comprehensive declaration campaign regarding economic and social relationships among both Party and non-Party cadres within the ministry. This process of declaration and inspection carried out by the Light Industry Ministry has brought to light many serious problems, and its experience is highly instructive; you are therefore directed to follow suit without exception.

(2) It is imperative that we treat the undertaking of having all Party and non-Party cadres—except for certain democratic personages—make comprehensive declarations of their economic and social ties as a major task, to be conducted as one phase of the Three-Anti Campaign. The chief officials must assume responsibility, pay close attention to mobilization efforts, and clearly explain the profound significance of such universal declarations within the context of the Three-Anti Movement, so as to dispel any misgivings among all cadres—both Party members and non-members—who are required to make declarations, thereby encouraging them to undertake this task earnestly. The methods employed by the Light Industry Ministry—“adopting a census-style approach whereby forms are universally completed, each individual makes a personal report, and the reports are approved through group discussions,” and “proceeding in an orderly manner from easier cases to more difficult ones, allowing those with no or few problems to be cleared first, while reserving the more serious and complex cases for later review, with particular emphasis on key individuals and matters”—are highly commendable; please implement them accordingly. In addition, all other points requiring attention should be handled in accordance with the Central Committee’s directive of April 5 on this very issue.[2]

(3) You are requested to supervise all subordinate departments in completing this review and declaration work within a relatively short period. The Central Committee originally stipulated that each unit should complete the task within seven to ten days; however, if any unit finds this timeframe insufficient, it may be extended slightly.

(4) Party committees at or above the county level are all required to prepare a special report on this matter, summarizing their experiences and submitting it hierarchically to the Central Committee for review. During the course of this work, we urge you to select exemplary cases and promptly telegraph them to the Central Committee.

Issued by the Central Committee on April 17, based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft. Notes [1] Refers to the Party Committee of Organs Directly Under the CPC Central Committee, the Party Committee of Organs Directly Under the Central People’s Government, and the Party Committee of Organs Directly Under the Military Commission. [2] Refers to the CPC Central Committee’s directive of April 5, 1952, concerning cadres’ declarations and their relations with the bourgeoisie. See note [3] on page ___ of this volume.