The first stage, from the release of the first batch of materials on May 13th to May 29th, consisted primarily of repeated study and discussion sessions on the two batches of documents, together with criticism of rightist tendencies. The second stage began with the holding of the first mobilization conference on May 30th, focusing on launching sharp exposures and criticisms, engaging in ideological debates, and conducting a preliminary sorting-out of personnel. Following the release of the third batch of materials on June 10th, a second mobilization conference was immediately convened, bringing the campaign into its third stage of widespread exposure of problems. The specific measures were as follows:  1. Carefully study the “materials” and wage a resolute struggle against all kinds of reactionary and erroneous ideas.  2. Conduct repeated rounds of mobilization, thoroughly grasp the materials, carry out personnel sorting, and create a powerful encirclement around the concealed counterrevolutionaries.  3. Fully unleash the masses, vigorously support sharp and intense ideological criticism, and, combined with individual talks, urge counterrevolutionaries to confess their crimes.  4. Cultivate active core members, expand the ranks of the fighting forces, enrich the body of evidence, and resolutely uncover all counterrevolutionary elements.  [2] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Chen refers to Chen Yun, who at that time served as Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at that time held the posts of Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Lu Dingyi was then Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Ten-Person Leading Group.  [ ] Shang Kun refers to Yang Shangkun, who at that time was Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

--- Notes

Central Directive Forwarding the Report of the Chinese Writers Association on the Struggle Against Concealed Counterrevolutionary Elements (August 10, 1955)  To the Shanghai Bureau, the Party Committees of all provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government, the Party Committees of autonomous regions, the various departments of the Central Military Commission, and the Party Leadership Groups of all central state organs:  This document [1] is very good. It is hereby circulated for your reference and may be forwarded to all units for implementation by analogy.  The Central Committee August 10, 1955  Reviewed by Liu, Chen, Deng, and Lu Dingyi [2]. Shang Kun [3] transmitted it by telegraph and also arranged for additional copies to be printed.  Printed from Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.  Notes [ ] refer to the report of the Chinese Writers Association dated July 14, 1955, concerning the struggle against the “Hu Feng Counterrevolutionary Group” and other concealed counterrevolutionary elements. The report states that with the publication of three batches of materials on the “Hu Feng Counterrevolutionary Group,” the Writers Association’s struggle against this group and all other hidden counterrevolutionaries has generally been divided into three stages: from May…