Comments and Revisions on the People’s Daily Editorial Draft “Unifying Understanding, Making Comprehensive Plans, and Diligently Carrying Out the Work of Transforming Capitalist Industry and Commerce” (November 14 and 17, 1955)  I. This can be published as it stands. To make the point clearer, a few sentences were added in “Second.” — Mao Zedong, November 14, based on the manuscript.

II. The future of society is as clear to everyone as the morning sun; and as long as all people move forward in the direction of social progress, they will find a smooth and broad path. For peasants, handicraftsmen, and other petty-bourgeois elements, this path means abandoning small private ownership and embracing socialist cooperative forms. For capitalists, it means renouncing capitalist ownership, ending the exploitation of workers, and accepting socialist state ownership. Once capitalists truly give up exploitation and live by their own labor, their social class ceases to be that of a capitalist; they become self-reliant working people. In that case, there will no longer be any contradiction between them and workers or peasants, and they will feel at ease, free from social reproach. When we speak of giving up exploitation here, we do not mean that this must be done immediately. Rather, ideological preparation should begin now. Discussions on this issue should be gradually and appropriately initiated within study groups for capitalists in various cities. Any doubts that arise should be answered by appropriate persons. We need to prepare for a process of public–private joint operation and sector-by-sector transformation, so that, when conditions are ripe, we may ultimately achieve nationalization of the means of production.

Will there then be any problems with employment? It should be understood that a socialist society knows neither economic crises nor will it ever have them. As long as one is not lazy and is willing to work sincerely, one will never lack suitable work. Therefore, all patriotic industrialists and merchants who do not oppose socialist transformation ought to recognize this prospect clearly: they should not hesitate or look back but instead actively strive toward it. Only in this way can they take control of their own destiny, avoiding a state of uncertainty and aimlessness—avoiding the situation described as “fifteen buckets drawing water, some going up, others down.” Published in the People’s Daily on November 22, 1955. Included in Selected Works on Mao Zedong’s Journalism. (With Mao Zedong’s revisions.)

III. Comrade Qiaomu [2]: I have read this document. It is usable and need not be submitted to me again. Two revisions were made:   (1) On page five, in the seventh line from the bottom, the three words “suppressive” are inappropriate; they should be replaced with “punishing them separately according to their specific circumstances.”   (2) At the end of page six, after “private shares,” nine characters—“appropriately, according to specific circumstances”—were added, followed by “distributed.” Please consult Comrade Chen Yun [3] to determine whether this revision would be more appropriate. — Mao Zedong, written late at night on November 17, based on the manuscript. Included in Selected Works on Mao Zedong’s Journalism.

Notes  [ ] See section (ii) of this text. The passages printed in Song typeface represent text added or revised by Mao Zedong.  [2] Qiaomu refers to Hu Qiaomu, who at the time served as Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee, Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Propaganda Department, and Mao Zedong’s secretary.  [3] Chen Yun was then a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council.