Letter to Liu Shaogi, Zhou Enlai, et al,
(November 18, 1954)


Comrades Liu, Zhou, Li, Chen, Luo, and Tao Zhu:'
The November 13 and November 14 issues of Renmin riba [Pegg
Daily} carried the transtation of the text of Chapter 22 of the new Sovie
cation Textbook on Political Economy,’ please take a look at the
you will find there adequate evidence that the argument that i
nomic laws cannot exist before the construction of socialism has 6 ecom
plete (or [at least) for the most part complete)” is wrong.
Mao Zedong
November 18
[P.S.] Comrade Boda, please take a look at the articles that discuss the is
Of economic laws in the transitional period in [the publications} Xb ‘
[New Construction] and Xwexi’ [Study) and see if they contain any emt

Notes

ming tu, appendix, pp. 47-49, and text Mar. 5, 1959, note 11. -..
http: / /dztsq:
soviet ‘Textbook of Political Economy” (see text 1960 Reading Notes), See this later document,
garce PANE, for further information wn this N

--- Notes

1 This letter was addressed to Lins Shaog!, Zhou Enlal, Li Fuctwn, Chen Bots, Lai
Weihian), and Tae Zhu, all of wham, according to the source, were in Guangzhon atte
conference al the time. For Lit Shaogi and Li Weihan, sce text May 19, 1953. sou em
text Apr 9. 195), source note, respectively. Zhou Enlai was premier of the Stare Cos
mmerly the GAC, name changed in September 1954). For more biographical info on Mao, see é
see D. Klein and A. Clark, exts (1971), 1, pp. 204-219. and Zhongeong reaming lie, i
pp. 51-54. Li Fochun was a vice-premier at this time and chairman of the Saat nin
mission. For more biographical information on Li, see D. Klein and A, Clark, eds. 97h
494-498, Zhonggony renming iu, appendix, pp, 35-36, and text Nov. 30, 1958, note 4
Boda was deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee off e
this time. For many years he was Mao's confidant in theoretical studies. For more D0
information on Chen, see D. Klein and A. Clark, eds. (1971), 1, pp. 122-125, Zhong
ming ti, appendix, pp, 68-69, and text Jan Ll, 1958, nole 28. Tao Zhu was sect ait
South China Sub-bureay of the Central Committee of the CPC at this time. For mare vei
information on Tao. see D. Klein und A. Clark, eds. (197), I, pp, 808-812, Zhong

2. Moo is apparently referring to the first edition of the Soviet publication Pulitioal BX
A Textbook, which was published by the Institute of Econumics of the Academy 6 a
(Academia Nauk) of the USSR in the fall of 1954, This was the product of an effor he pale
by Stalin to mobilize Soviet scholars to prepare a textbook na economics based! Of ak
the economic development of socialism. ‘This edition of the textbook was, therefe rot
Stalinist in| tts overtones and interpretations and was quite different from the tater (tse til
especially, the third revises!) editions an Which Mao based his later work, “Reading Note®


5. Xie jianshe (New Construction) was a multidisciplinury scholarly magazine published
jonihly in Beijing and didritaiecd nahonwide. The focus of the magazine was on philosophy und
ihe sucial sciences. For the publication Xuweed (Study), see text Sepe 5, 1952, note 9,