Comments on the General Cadre Department’s Report Concerning the Relationship with Soviet Advisors (December 28, 1952)

Peng [1] to read; Xiao Xiangrong [2] to handle. This report [3] may be circulated for reference among the heads of all departments of the Military Commission, the major military regions, and the military academies (those having Soviet advisors). It is hoped that all departments will, in like manner, treat their Soviet advisor comrades in a correct spirit. Mao Zedong, December 28, 1952.

Printed from the manuscript. Notes: [1] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, who at that time served as Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission. [2] Xiao Xiangrong was then Director of the General Office of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission. [3] Refers to the report dated December 27, 1952, submitted by Lai Chuanzhu and Xu Liqing, Deputy Directors of the General Cadre Department of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission, to Peng Dehuai and concurrently to Mao Zedong, concerning the review of relations with Soviet advisors.

The report states: In July of this year, Comrade Kasulin, an advisor to the General Cadre Department, offered a critical opinion on our work. In accordance with Comrade Mao Zedong’s instruction of October 20 of this year, the General Cadre Department convened, on December 8, a symposium attended by all department heads and relevant bureau chiefs to solicit the Soviet advisor’s views on our work. At the meeting we reviewed the shortcomings in our work; the advisor expressed great satisfaction and offered extensive comments on the achievements, deficiencies, and future tasks of our cadre work. We consider these views most valuable and suitable as guidelines for further improving our work. The report further notes: Over the past year or so, our relations with the advisor have been relatively good. On important matters we have proactively sought his consultation and attached great importance to learning from the Soviet experience. Our mutual attitude has been one of sincerity; whenever differences of opinion have arisen, they have been resolved through consultation or explanation. We believe that our army’s cadre organs are newly established organizations lacking comprehensive experience, and that learning from the Soviet military’s cadre work experience is essential if we are to make progress. However, in implementing specific measures and adopting certain organizational forms, we must take into account the actual conditions prevailing in our own army.