Commentary on the Misdirected News Item “Telegram of Congratulations from the Commanders of the East China Military Region to the Troops That Liberated Yijiangshan Island” [1] (February 6, 1955)  To Peng [2], and Comrade Su Yu:  A meeting should be convened with the relevant personnel (including Xinhua News Agency) to lay out specific measures for implementing the CMC’s January 12 directive [3], and to offer both criticism and instructions to the East China Military Region.  … Mao Zedong February 6 Based on the manuscript copy.  Notes  [1] This commentary was written on a self-criticism report submitted on February 1, 1955, by Su Yu, Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, to Peng Dehuai, Member of the CPC Central Military Commission, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Minister of National Defense, with copies also sent to the CMC and the Central Committee. The report stated that the news item “Telegram of Congratulations from the Commanders of the East China Military Region to the Troops That Liberated Yijiangshan Island,” published in the People’s Daily on January 20, 1955, had been unauthorizedly approved for publication by a secretary in the absence of the responsible commander, constituting a serious act of disorganization and indiscipline. Moreover, the release of this congratulatory telegram violated both the CMC’s January 12, 1955, directive concerning war reports and the dissemination of military news, and Premier Zhou Enlai’s instruction that such telegrams of congratulations and commendations should be issued in the name of the Ministry of National Defense when addressed externally and in the name of the CMC when circulated internally, thereby producing an adverse impact. Henceforth, strict compliance with the CMC’s directives is required,

in order to overcome localism and bureaucracy and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.  [2] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai.  [3] Refers to the CPC Central Military Commission’s January 12, 1955, directive on matters related to war reports and the release of military news.