I. I approve Comrade Chen Yun’s report. [2] Detailed measures will be discussed later.

Whether the measure of adopting unified purchase and unified marketing for the grain problem has come a step late—we shall see in the future; perhaps it is not late.

From now until mid-November or late November, make preparations. From December to January next year, carry out grain requisition and grain purchase simultaneously. Therefore, the arrangements for grain requisition must be postponed by one month.

This is also a battle to be fought. On one side, it targets those who supply grain; on the other side, it targets those who consume grain. One must not fight a battle unprepared. We must make full preparations and carry out urgent mobilization.

II. Inside and outside the Party, there is much discussion about rural work.

Outside the Party, Liang Shuming [3] says the rural situation is very bad. Inside the Party, there are also views about protecting the peasants’ interests.

Marx and Engels never said that everything about the peasants is good. The peasants have a side characterized by spontaneity and blindness.

The basic way out for the peasants is socialism—from mutual aid and cooperation to large cooperatives (not necessarily called collective farms).

At present, it is a period of “transition between the old and the new.” Some peasants have already begun to forget the benefits of land distribution. They are now in the transitional period from individual economy to socialist collective economy.

The mainstay of our country’s economy is the state-owned economy. It has two wings, that is, two flanking sectors: one wing is state capitalism (the transformation of private capitalism); the other wing is mutual aid and cooperation, and grain requisition and purchase (the transformation of the peasants).

Some people want to “feel out the real situation” in the countryside.

The real situation in the countryside consists of six points. These can serve as a reply to Liang Shuming and also to some comrades inside the Party.

1. Small-scale peasant economy. This economy is not good, but it is a reality.

2. About 10 percent of grain-deficient households. In total, about 48 million peasants lack grain. Among them, the situation in the old liberated areas is somewhat better; in the newly liberated areas it is rather serious. It will take five years to resolve.

3. Every year, 20 to 40 million disaster victims. There are six kinds of disasters: flood, drought, wind, pests, frost, and hail. This problem will take several decades to resolve, but if handled well, it can be reduced.

4. About 10 percent of backward townships. According to materials from Party consolidation and the “New Three-Antis,” 80 to 90 percent of the bad cadres in these townships are alien elements who have wormed their way in; 10 to 20 percent are good cadres who have degenerated.

The above four points are all negative aspects. The following two points are positive aspects.

5. Eighty to 90 percent of the peasants are elated and jubilant, and support the government. The grain-deficient households and disaster victims also support the government. Those who do not support the government include landlords and rich peasants. Our foundation in the countryside is this 80 to 90 percent of the peasants.

6. Mutual aid and cooperation have already developed. In the old liberated areas, it has reached 60 to 70 percent; in the newly liberated areas, 20 to 25 percent. Among these, some are also false. The further development of the countryside in the future will basically rely on this sixth point.

This is not about the “technical real situation” but about the “political real situation.” We must make people inside and outside the Party know the facts clearly.

The popularization and application of techniques such as water conservancy, farm tools, fertilizers, and farming methods must now also rely on mutual aid and cooperation. In the future, to further advance socialism, we will have to rely on machines (tractors).

III. The question discussed today involves the question of the 80 to 90 percent of people who are elated and jubilant, and also involves the question of grain-deficient households. This is the question of implementing the system of grain requisition and purchase for the peasants.

Upon whom shall we rely to implement grain requisition and purchase? Mainly upon Party members. They are rural cadres and activists among the peasants. Among the poor peasants, middle peasants, and grain-deficient households, there are such activists.

Relying solely on grain-deficient households will not work. Grain-deficient households can serve as our allied army, and they can also serve as the allied army of the middle peasants.

IV. The question of rationing.

The three issues—grain requisition and purchase, rectification of private merchants, and unified management—are imperative.

The question of rationing can be considered. My observation is that it is also imperative. Because small-scale peasant economy does not increase production much, while urban grain demand grows year by year. If we can avoid simultaneous tension in cities and villages, that would be better, but I am afraid it cannot be done.

As for the name, it is also acceptable not to call it rationing; it can be called planned supply.

The possible flaws in doing this are: first, peasant dissatisfaction; second, urban resident dissatisfaction; third, foreign public opinion dissatisfaction. The question depends on our work.

V. The question of propaganda.

We must publicize the policy of unified purchase and unified marketing of grain with great fanfare, but the newspapers shall not publish a single word.

The policy is already set. After today’s meeting, we may refrain from speaking about it for the time being, because the meeting convened with responsible comrades from the various central bureaus and major provinces and municipalities will not conclude until the 12th. However, the relevant organs may proceed with discussions and prepare arrangements.

Printed based on the transcript of the speech preserved in the Central Archives.

Notes
〔1〕 This is the conclusion delivered by Mao Zedong at the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
〔2〕 Refers to the report on the grain problem delivered by Chen Yun, Vice Premier of the Government Administration Council, at the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on October 2, 1953. The report pointed out that the current national grain situation is extremely serious. Some major grain-producing areas have failed to fulfill grain procurement tasks, while grain sales volume is constantly rising. The flour supply in Beijing and Tianjin is already insufficient, reaching a point where rationing must be implemented. If resolute measures are not taken, the grain market will inevitably descend into severe chaos. The result will inevitably lead to overall price fluctuations, forcing wage increases, affecting industrial production, destabilizing the budget, and impacting construction plans. This is not beneficial to the state and the people, but only benefits rich peasants and speculative merchants. Therefore, on the grain issue, it is necessary to implement requisition and purchase in the countryside, implement rationing in the cities, strictly manage private merchants, and adjust internal relations under the premise of adhering to unified management.
〔3〕 Liang Shuming (1893–1988), a native of Guilin, Guangxi. At the time, he served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.