Central Directive Accompanying the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee’s Report on Clearing Out Concealed Counterrevolutionaries (July 20, 1955) To the Party Committees of All Provinces and Municipalities Directly Under the Central Government, and to the Party Committees of Autonomous Regions: The Shanghai Municipal Party Committee’s report dated July 18 concerning the clearing out of concealed counterrevolutionaries [1] is most commendable; it is hereby forwarded for your reference. We request that you submit summaries of your own good experiences. Issued by the Central Committee on July 20, 1955, based on Mao Zedong’s manuscript. Reviewed by Liu and Deng [2]; transmitted by telegram to Shang Kun [3], with additional copies distributed to various units. Printed from the manuscript by Mao Zedong on July 20.

Notes [1] The Communist Party of China Shanghai Municipal Committee’s report of July 18, 1955, states that on July 15 the Municipal Committee’s Special Commission convened heads of five entities—the First Special Group (Finance and Trade), the Second Special Group (Industry), the Luwan District Committee, Fudan University, and East China Normal University—for briefings. Prior to launching the campaign against rightist tendencies, leaders in these units had insufficient understanding and hesitated to fully mobilize the masses and boldly engage in ideological struggle. Now, adapting to specific local conditions, leaders have taken the lead in delivering reports and conducting self-criticism, exposing and criticizing existing rightist ideas, thereby injecting new momentum into the movement. Their key lessons are as follows: First, resolutely and repeatedly carry forward the struggle against rightist tendencies, with leading cadres setting the example and ensuring thorough implementation at all levels; severely criticize lagging units and individual cadres. Second, fully mobilize the masses to participate in the struggle, while strengthening the training and education of core activists so that they grasp the Party’s policies and clearly understand the objectives and direction of the struggle. At the same time, it is essential to sow discord among the enemy, fragment its ranks, and further root out all hidden counterrevolutionary elements. [2] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at that time served as Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. [3] Shang Kun refers to Yang Shangkun, who at that time held the posts of Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Office.