Letter to Huang Yanpei
(September 5, 1952)

Source: Shuxin, pp. 41-444.

reference on the subject discussed in thix letter, see text Mar. (5, 1952. Also see
yest Feb) 17, 1951, source note,

Mr. Renzhi:’
Your letter from Beidaihe,’ your letter of September 4, and the draft of

urspeech’ have all been received, Thank you so much.

The intention of the draft of your speech is very good, but | fee) that if ts 4
hit too radical, and {um afraid that the majority of the bourgeoisie may not be
able to stand it. Therefore, as according to your bidding, | have suggested certain amendments. | wonder if they are suitable; please consider them and
make your own decision.

To usk the bourgeoisie to accept the fundamental ideas of the working class
~¢.¢., the elimination of exploitation, the abolition of classes, the elimination
of individualism — to accept the Marxist world view, or, as you say: “Without
labor there is no living; one must not seek [means of] living outside of labor or
the exertion of one’s own energies.” is to demand of the bourgeoisie that it
Must accept socialism. This is possible with a small number of progressive
elements. However, it is not appropriate to demand this of them as a class us a
Whole: at least within the period of the First Five-Year Plan’ it would not be
Sppropriute to engage in such propaganda.

In the present stage [of the development of socialism), we should only
: them, as a class, to accept the leadership of the working class, i.¢,, to
San the Common Program.” It is not appropriate for us to exceed this

ncary

In the present stage we allow for the existence of the bourgeoisie, but they
MUst be engaged in enterprises that are beneficial (o the state and the people,

must not be involved with the “Five Poisons.” This is the leadership of
oe class on the bourgeoisie and is stipulated by the Common Pro-

It is not possible, or proper, for us to step our of this fine and demand that
digg eeoisic accept the working class ideology or, 50 to speak, [for us] to
OW such things as the bourgeoisie’s making moncy by exploitative

ae and to allow them to only think, as the workers do, that “without labor

| is no living” — {to allow them] to only think [in terms of] socialism and

doc KAA HHH


284 | MAO ZEDONG

not capitalism.

In the earlier half of this + Some comrades writing articles jp -
[Study] magazine in Beijing’ have expressed precisely these opin
have already instructed them to make certain revisions and corre

With regard to a minority among the bourgeoisie - those people y
and foresight — I agree with your viewpoint: we can indeed propa
socialism among them to make them interested in the socialist cy
this can be done and is beneficial. Under China‘s [present) condi
people may emerge. and, particularly in a few years’ time, when the san
economic sector grows stronger and larger and has further demonstrans
great contribution to the state and the people, the number of such pee
grow gradually.

Of late, your ideas have made much speedy progress. For example, w
you spoke in your letter from Beidaihe on the subject of the §
sovereignty and this time on the subject of socialism, this is demo strat
Nonetheless, what you say is, at the present time, a bit premature, [tis pe
ble for a few people to think such things, but it is not possible for them
pul into action. I am expressing my humble opinions above” because
seem to place great trust in me. Whether or not they are proper, 1 We
very happy if you would examine them and teach me your thoughts.

In the near future, when I have the time, | would like very much fo by
talk with you.

With my respect,

Mao Zedong
September 5, 1952

Notes

simction Association. [1s title was “How Should We Promote, On the Concluston of the
Anti’s and Five-Anti’s Movements, the Spirit of Chairman Mao's Directive on the Policies

Huang originally had: “The capitalists ought to fully accepe working class ideology,’” M
changed tt to: “The capitalists ought to fully accept the leadership of the Working class ae’=
stite-run economy.” (2) Mao changed the passage reading: “working chess idenhogy to edie
and reform capitalists” to “ust patriotic ideas and the ideas of the Common Program to edie
and reform cupitalists” and the passage reading; “help the capitalists ha reform their the
“help the capitalists to reform those bau ideas, those ideas thal do nol conform to the id
Patriotism and the Commun Program, jc, the s-called "Five Poisons’ inteas.” (For the mean
of “Commen Program” and “Five Poisons,” see text Sept, 2), !'49_ note 3, and text Now.

http: / /dztsg:

JULY — SEPTEMBER 1952 / 285

jas2, note 6, respectively}. (3) To the sentence in the draft that read: “Some members of the
por | cane bad, some ate good” Mao added: “For the majority of the bourgeoisie, within the
te ay ot ony individual among them, there ane bad aspects, and there are good aspects, we
ld help deem ka siasard tes as Ts ase: peale tn BSS Gees. UA eas OF ECO
elded the Folhowrng: “This is what we demand and expect of the majority of the bourgevisie
an ihe present tke However, under the current conditions in China, a minority of the baurgeor
ale consisting of people who ure farsighted, may in fact exceed these expectations and come to
er" ihe basic ideology of the working class, |,¢,. the ideology of socialism, They may, on the
hand, continue to run and open Gp factories, without seeking to be immediately reclassified
spsworars] or 0 Sica appentates OF Loy oon pies ae, case aa SAS, [ares P=
geive the yreat contnbation thatthe socialist enterprise is making to humanity, and (ths) hope to
_ in the future, socialist. I }s possible that such people exist, and we ought to express to
our welcome.”
§ Seetent Feby. 10, 1953, note 2
5, Sec text Sept, 21, 1949, gote 3,
7, Sec text Nov, 1951 - Mar, 1953, note 6
§, The cinphasis ts in the Chinese original.
& This ts # periodical published by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of
the CPC to assist Party cadres in their study of Maraist theory
0. In the Chinese original, the wording bere reads ru you, meaning ‘‘as in what goes to the
right of this.” Because of the manner in which Chinese is written, this means “the above."’