Central Directive on the Beijing Municipal Committee’s Report Concerning the Experience of Mobilizing Workers to Screen Illegal Industrial and Commercial Households (April 18, 1952) This document [1] is very good; it is hereby circulated to all Central Bureaus, Branch Bureaus, and provincial, municipal, and district Party committees for adoption. Printed by the Central Committee on April 18, based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

Notes [ ] refer to the report submitted by the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee on April 17, 1952, to the Central Committee and the North China Bureau, detailing its experience in mobilizing workers to screen illegal industrial and commercial households. The report states that, in handling such cases in Beijing, widespread mobilization of workers, shop assistants, and office staff to serve as “gatekeepers” brought to light many concealed violations committed by those classified as seriously or completely lawless. The main lessons learned were as follows:

First, at the outset of the screening process, a brief and clear explanation of the policy should be given to workers, shop assistants, and office staff, clearly outlining the criteria and procedures for classifying and dealing with industrial and commercial households, as well as the tactics used by capitalists to evade detection.

Second, differentiated treatment is essential. Law-abiding and basically law-abiding enterprises may be “cleared” once they have largely confessed. However, for those that are half-law-abiding and half-lawbreaking—especially the seriously and completely lawless—it is necessary to fully mobilize workers and shop assistants, win over upper-level clerical staff, and thoroughly uncover all five types of corruption. As for capitalists who ought to be protected, preparatory work should be carried out separately among the working masses and within capitalist study groups before granting them protection.

Third, in terms of organizational form, larger industrial and commercial enterprises with serious and complex problems that do not require protection may be screened on a household-by-household basis, while smaller establishments with few workers or shop assistants can be grouped together for joint screening conducted by their employees.

Fourth, regarding demands raised by the working masses for shorter working hours and improved working conditions, these issues may be set aside for comprehensive consideration after the Five-Anti Campaign has largely concluded, so as to concentrate initial efforts on eradicating the five types of corruption.

Fifth, for factories and shops where mass awareness is low and organizational strength is weak, cadres and active members should be dispatched to lead the screening process.