Comments on Liu Shaoqi’s Report on Strengthening the CPC Central Committee’s Administrative Organs (August 4, 1952) To Comrades Zhou, Zhu, Peng, Deng Xiaoping, He Long, Chen Yi, Liu Bocheng, Tan Zhenlin, Li Fuchun, Peng Zhen, Bo Yibo, and Ma Mingfang [1]: Please read this document and return it to Comrade Liu Shaoqi for handling.

(1) I find this document feasible. Kindly review it; if you broadly concur, proceed as Comrade Liu Shaoqi has suggested to begin preparatory work by drawing personnel from various localities to set up certain organs.

(2) As for the overall plan, of course, a resolution can only be adopted and implementation initiated at the Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee in September or October.

Mao Zedong August 4 Based on the manuscript copy.

Notes

[1] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, who at that time was a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission. Deng Xiaoping was then First Secretary of the CPC Southwest Bureau. He Long was Third Secretary of the CPC Southwest Bureau. Chen Yi was Second Secretary of the CPC East China Bureau. Liu Bocheng was Second Secretary of the CPC Southwest Bureau and President and Political Commissar of the PLA Military Academy. Tan Zhenlin was Acting Secretary of the CPC East China Bureau. Li Fuchun was Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Director of the State Council’s Finance and Economic Commission. Peng Zhen was Alternate Member of the CPC Secretariat and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. Bo Yibo was First Secretary of the CPC North China Bureau and Deputy Director of the State Council’s Finance and Economic Commission. Ma Mingfang was Third Secretary of the CPC Northwest Bureau.

[2] Refers to the opinion drafted on July 17, 1952, by Yang Shangkun, Director of the CPC Central Office, and An Ziwen, Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, which Liu Shaoqi had forwarded. The opinion stated: At present, our country is entering a period of construction, and all sectors are calling for more centralized leadership from the central authorities. However, on the one hand, there are too few leading comrades at the central level while the workload is extremely heavy; on the other hand, the central administrative organs are already far from being able to meet these demands. Therefore, it is proposed that early next year the secretaries of the various central bureaus be recalled to strengthen central leadership, while at the same time reinforcing the organizations and operations of the existing ministries, commissions, and offices under the CPC Central Committee, and establishing several new ministries and commissions.