Comment on the Report on the Campaign to Eliminate Hidden Counter-Revolutionaries
(August 7, 1955)

To the Shanghai Bureau, all provincial and municipal Party committees, and the Party committees of all autonomous regions:

Sichuan

Refers to the report of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee of the CPC, dated July 24, 1955, on the situation of the campaign to eliminate hidden counter-revolutionaries carried out by organs under the Guangzhou Municipal Government, submitted to the Central Committee. The report states that the campaign within the organs under the Guangzhou Municipal Government has developed rapidly over the past week, and a large amount of material on counter-revolutionary activities has already been exposed. The insights gained during the campaign are: First, it is essential to fully mobilize the masses, especially the middle and backward masses. One of the characteristics of the activities of counter-revolutionaries is to draw in and make use of certain individuals with stains on their history, those who have made mistakes, or backward elements among the masses. Therefore, fully mobilizing these people, relieving them of their historical burdens, dispelling their misgivings, and raising their political consciousness is of decisive significance for the thorough elimination of hidden counter-revolutionaries. Second, it is necessary to explain the policies repeatedly and tirelessly. Counter-revolutionaries fear execution the most, those with general political problems fear purge the most, and beyond that, they also fear not being trusted and having no future. The policies should be clearly explained to them: those who confess thoroughly shall not be executed even if they deserve execution, those with serious crimes shall have their punishment reduced, those with minor crimes shall be exempted from punishment, and they are allowed to atone for their crimes by meritorious service; those with general political problems shall not be purged as long as they confess; those who confess thoroughly and can also expose other counter-revolutionaries and bad elements may be welcomed by the people and trusted by the organization, and they will have a future. In this way, the resistance mentality of the counter-revolutionaries can be greatly shaken. Third, resolutely criticize and overcome right-leaning thinking, so that the campaign develops in depth and does not become a mere formality. Fourth, strengthen leadership over grassroots small groups, conduct in-depth inspections of work, promptly identify problems, and resolve them.

The Guangdong report is hereby issued to you for reference. Please pay special attention to the two points of fully mobilizing the masses and repeatedly explaining the policies.

The Central Committee
August 7, 1955

To be read by Liu, Zhou, Deng, and Lu Dingyi; Shangkun to send by telegram, with additional copies printed.

[1] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, then serving as Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Lu Dingyi, then serving as Director of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Ten-Person Group.
[2] Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, then serving as Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee.