I

Comrade Li Weihan:

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Mao Zedong

November 22, 1955, 10:30 p.m.

(Published according to the manuscript)

II

Economic departments do not concern themselves with political work, and political departments do not concern themselves with economic work, or they each go about their tasks without consulting one another. This is detrimental to the transformation of the capitalist ownership system and the transformation of the bourgeois elements.

III

The transformation of enterprises in the form of joint state-private ownership is, first of all, the socialist transformation of the capitalist ownership system to a very great extent. Such enterprises are already "three-quarters socialist" enterprises. After joint operation has been established, the transformation shifts to the methods of operation and management, that is, the struggle between the socialist line and the capitalist line in the methods of operation and management. In the initial period, this is the principal form of class struggle in the joint enterprises.

IV

We must also patiently educate the capitalists and the capitalist representatives holding actual posts, helping them gradually to recognize the merits and demerits, the superiority and inferiority, of the two systems and the two methods, and to criticize and discard the old (i.e., capitalist) and come over to the new (i.e., socialist) side. In this way, they will have passed one test at the time of the joint operation of their enterprises and another test at this time. After passing these two tests, the problem of transforming them will proceed more smoothly.

V

The backward elements are, of course, influenced by the reactionary elements (i.e., counter-revolutionaries and other bad elements of a serious nature), but they mainly watch the attitude of the middle elements. If the large numbers of middle elements turn left, the backward elements, feeling that they are about to be isolated and helpless, will have to reluctantly follow suit. We should make them gradually break away from the reactionary elements.

VI

The reactionary elements can not only be isolated but also be split. There are also different circumstances among the reactionary elements, and we should deal with them separately.

VII

The socialist transformation of capitalist industry and commerce will go through fierce and complicated class struggle, because the bourgeoisie will not voluntarily step down from the stage of history. Their acceptance of transformation is determined by the general trend of events and by our policies, and a small minority will certainly still resist.

VIII

Summing up the achievements of the transformation work over the past six years, it can be said that the majority of the bourgeoisie have already accepted joint state-private ownership or are prepared to accept such a transformation, and have thus taken a big step forward on the road of socialist transformation.

(Published according to Mao Zedong's revised manuscript)

IX

Except for the counter-revolutionaries and other bad elements of a serious nature, who account for only a few per cent, the rest can definitely be transformed through educational methods combining encouragement with criticism. Criticism is the principal form of struggle against them. Of course, forms of struggle such as imposing fines on lawbreakers should also be added.

(Published according to Mao Zedong's manuscript)

**Notes**

[1] Li Weihan, then Director of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Eighth Office of the State Council, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

[2] Refers to the draft speech Li Weihan submitted to Mao Zedong on November 21, 1955, for the meeting to be convened by the Central Committee on the socialist transformation of capitalist industry and commerce.

[3] See items (II) to (IX) of this piece. The text printed in Song typeface represents the passages added or rewritten by Mao Zedong.