Comments on the Organizational Plan Request [I]
(December 3, 1954)
To Comrades Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Chen, Deng, Chen Boda, Hu Qiaomu, Deng Tao¹²¹, and Zhou Yang

¹²¹ Refers to Zhou Yang, Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Propaganda Department, whose report dated December 2, 1954, concerning the organizational plan for criticizing Hu Shi was submitted to Mao Zedong. The report stated that, in accordance with the spirit of your conversation last night, the original draft plan for discussing the Hu Shi issue had been fundamentally revised. At an expanded joint meeting held that afternoon between the Presidium of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Presidium of the Writers Association, the revised draft plan for criticizing Hu Shi was discussed and adopted. The new plan focused primarily on critiquing Hu Shi’s thought, with the following discussion topics: 1) A critique of Hu Shi’s philosophical ideas (mainly his pragmatism); 2) A critique of Hu Shi’s political thought; 3) A critique of Hu Shi’s historical views; 4) A critique of Hu Shi’s “History of Chinese Philosophy”; 5) A critique of Hu Shi’s literary theories; 6) A critique of Hu Shi’s “History of Chinese Literature”; 7) The position and role of textual research in historical studies and classical literature scholarship; 8) The popular character and artistic achievements of “Dream of the Red Chamber,” as well as its social context; and 9) A critique of works on “Dream of the Red Chamber” (i.e., an evaluation of the so-called old and new schools of Redology). With regard to the organization and format of the symposium, it was decided to emphasize individual research and adopt a more flexible organizational structure and discussion methods. All major papers presented at the symposium would be published in the People’s Daily. To lead this round of discussions, a committee had been formally established, comprising Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, Zhou Yang, Deng Tao, Pan Zinian, Hu Sheng, Lao She, Yin Da, and others.

[2]
Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Chen refers to Chen Yun, who at the time served as a Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, then Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee. Chen Boda was at the time Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Propaganda Department. Hu Qiaomu was also a Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Propaganda Department. Deng Tao was then Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Daily.

Read and proceed accordingly.
In 1954, Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Liu Shaoqi were at Zhongnanhai.
Mao Zedong
December 3rd
....Is this acceptable?／／”
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