Central Reply to the Southwest Bureau on the Issue of Loans to Small Land Tenants, Rich Peasants, and Landlords [1] (July 10, 1953) To the Southwest Bureau, with copies to all Central Bureaus and Sub-bureaus, as well as to provincial and municipal Party committees: We have carefully studied the report dated May 9, 1953, submitted by the People’s Bank of China’s Southwest Regional Office concerning agricultural loans, together with the opinions of the Southwest Bureau.
The Central Committee concurs with the Southwest Bureau’s views on how to handle small land tenants, rich peasants, and landlords with regard to loan matters [2]. However, with respect to those landlord elements who, after the land reform, have indeed engaged in agricultural production and comply with government decrees, if they are genuinely experiencing production difficulties or encountering unforeseen calamities such as illness, then, provided that local masses consent, appropriate consideration may also be given to them within the framework of agricultural loans.
Should local masses oppose extending loans to such landlord elements, no loans should be made to them.
Issued by the Central Committee on July 10, 1953, printed according to a version revised by Mao Zedong.
Notes [ ] Text set in Song typeface throughout this document consists of passages added or rewritten by Mao Zedong. [2] In its report dated May 9, 1953, addressed to the Party Leadership Group of the Central Financial and Economic Commission and to the Central Committee, the Southwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee put forward the following views on the question of granting loans to small land tenants, rich peasants, and landlords: (1) The principle of not extending agricultural loans to landlords or rich peasants should be upheld.
As for whether loans should be granted to small land tenants, we believe that each case ought to be examined in light of its specific circumstances.
Those who are genuinely facing difficulties in engaging in agricultural production may be eligible for agricultural loans; otherwise, their difficulties should be addressed through other means, so as not to turn agricultural credit into a form of social relief. (2) Where landlords are genuinely confronted with hardships in production and daily life, we should not adopt an attitude of indifference, for such neglect would be detrimental to society as a whole.
Instead, measures should be taken on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the particular situation involved. (3) The issue of rich peasants requires careful analysis.
Generally speaking, since the policy adopted during the land reform in the Southwest was to preserve the economic position of rich peasants, instances in which they are unable to carry out production or sustain themselves are virtually non-existent.
That said, it does not follow that rich peasants are entirely free from production problems; it is quite possible that their morale in production remains low.
Therefore, the primary task with regard to rich peasants is to stabilize their productive enthusiasm.
Where individual cases have been wrongly classified or where they have suffered from unexpected disasters, special arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis.