TALK OPPOSING RIGHT-DEVIATION AND CONSERVATISM
(6 December 1955)
"Left" is better than right. Wrong. Right is better than
Wrong again. The ideas of some people have fallen behind reality. Their
heads have no horns and they lack militancy. In the struggle between the
two roads, they do not conduct criticism, or if they do, it is not sharp.
They are afraid of criticism and are afraid of losing votes. All these are
manifestations of right deviation and it is necessary for the Party to oppose
them. The 6th Plenary Session criticized the right-deviationist empiricism
of the Rural Work Department. That the thought of its leading cadres has
fallen behind reality is a serious problem. It was like this during the
transformation of capitalism, the suppression of counterrevolutionaries, and
the organization of cooperatives in agriculture. We underestimated our own
strength. In the past, agriculture lagged behind industry. After the
Articles" came out, agriculture caught up with industry and forced it to
advance. If the basic level cooperatives are not improved in three or four
years, it will be disadvantageous. It is possible that socialism will be
here by 1959. Ideologically, the 17 Articles are against conservatism.
Half a year ago, we did not consider overall planning, strengthening leader
ship, fundamental measures, and advanced experience. Now things have changed.
In fact, tremendous changes have taken place. Immense productive forces
have appeared. It is like discovering a new continent. The continent was
there all the time, but we did not see it. The socialist transformation of
industry and commerce will be 90 percent completed by 1957. The transforma
tion of handicrafts will also be rushed. The plan is too small,
By 1957, transformation will be completed 70 to 80 percent. Originally,
nationalization of industrial and commercial enterprises was planned for 1962.
Perhaps this will be fulfilled ahead of schedule. To nationalize jointly-operated enterprises is not difficult. The cooperative movement was changed
to 10 years from 18 years. This shows that it lags behind reality.
potential
nf th^- masses is enormous. They
We should oppose right deviation and conservatism and finish the transforms
tion ahead of schedule. I suggest we achieve it before the targeted 15 years.

Me should revise such indefinite ™rds
(or! Like in
'around 15 years." We should strive or
delivery be advanced to
the case of ordering mercWise,
^
speed up the
an earlier date. We should tate a v
g
thinking in connection
tempo and accomplish the bvera
as .
fulfill the overall task
with the 8th National Party Congress. "
^
f
eare of the battle-during the transition period
extremely advantageous to
field should be easy. Doing it I'^i^kly^ll
to fight.
us. If fighting is to resume, we
^
the instruction task.
But it will be difficult If we have not fulfilled t
^
We must hurry and achieve faster, 8^®^ ®
^ shorter period of time.
projects. We must obtain better r
demand of the masses. Achieving
Handling work in an orderly manner
advance. There were defects in
greater and better results will mean ^^eady advance, ine^
our past campaign
^^®t was wrong. Instead of eliminating
siasm of the cadres and the masses.
^
losers. Uprighteous-illiteracy and opposing venturesome ®dvan '
neatly. The cadres and
ness did not stand up, but evil
^ ^
the part of the Central
the masses became listless
It was
^n early date. The
Committee that it did not
follows the Communist Party." In
masses say "One can t go wrong when
B„t specifically speaking,
terms of main orientation they ^®«^fSO^°"®iherfaS several Lys to
we were wrong and the masses
the worsrwaJT Relatively
Advance -
the best way, the
irtL fo;efront and
speaking, the correct and proper
y
<ifsnA in the rear and pour cold
encourage the masses to advance,
results in a
-
water on them to dampen their spi
.
ctpadv advance. To transact
relatively short period of time is to
little work is
business according to
methods to overcome the conservative
the conservative line. There are two me
contact with the masses,
lin.: carry out overall planning
When you come
Methods having nothing to do with
g
^
things, new experi-into close contact with the wasses, y^ ^11 uncover^MW
ences, advanced experiences
Sd^'gSL SJen you know
catch a lot of sparrows to know about ^be liv
S
realize that
that Chekiang and Anhwei will
^rative movement. Conservatism is
the whole country can o'^8an^e the
P
progressive and criticize the
not the problem, of any one
f"/-
g ^^d the potentialities of
laggards, and to discover new p
u a ^ ioflri*»rshin
We have to do all
thfnassU are the rules and the meth^
s!t iran office and
this before we can convince People.
the progressive,
not come into close contact
„ot do to just transact
Official business has to be
g^go have to grasp the progressive,
official business. When you go out, y
^ responsible person
You cannot just tackle the laggar ® ®
weeks. The sitting-in-the-should be close to the masses for seven
always calls
office style can only be
® t
things can be broken every day.
rS£.~h:ra;ce°rtSorary.^ This ia the law of advance.

It is wrong to balance unalterable viewpoints. We grasp the progressive
and bring up the others in the midst of imbalance so as to make progress.
If we are not afraid of "breakthrough, contradictions will arise. But if
it is forever calm and peaceful, mistakes are bound to occur. To break
i
through and then seek balance is dialectics. Only in this way can we
'
inspire the initiative of the masses, advance socialist construction to an
early date, surpass the target with faster, greater and better results
before the targeted 15 years, and proceed by steady steps.
Our country as compared with the Soviet Union; 1) Ours has been
evolved from over 20 years of experience in the base areas and three revolu
tionary wars, and therefore is a country of much experience. Before victory
we already had experience in every field. After casting about several times,
we quickly founded the nation and accomplished our revolutionary task. (The
Soviet Union was a newly developed country. It went through the October
Revolution and had neither army nor government, and party members were few.)
2) We have the assistance of the Soviet Union and other democratic nations.
3) Our population is big and our position is favorable. Peasants work
industriously and bear much hardship, but they have no way out if they do
not cooperativize. Chinese peasants are even better than British and Ameri
can workers. Hence, they can achieve greater, better and faster results in
reaching socialism. We should not always compare ourselves with the Soviet
Union. By being able to produce 24 million tons of steel after three fiveyear plans, we will be faster than the Soviet Union. Now, our two flanks
are riding high and it is possible that our main body is lagging behind.
The two flanks are apt to be conceited, but most prone to arrogance will-be
industry, above all heavy industry. The Anshan Iron and Steel Mill is al
ready giving'itself airs. It is very likely that the country will be
socialized, but not industrialized (The proportion is no more than 60; the
system has not been established yet). Can we let the peasants wait or not?
The answer is no. The socialization of the peasants will not hinder indus-tralization. We cannot let them wait. We should check closely the work on
the two flanks. Besides, we should also seriously review the industrial
question and make industry go through the big campaigns on schedule. An
inspection of finance, trade, and culture and education should also be made.
At the 8th National Congress, a summing-up review should be carried out.
This then is the pivotal question. We should oppose conservatism, right
deviation, passivity, and arrogance. We should discover advanced experiences,
change the method of leadership, and achieve faster and better results. We
should mobilize the masses to conduct criticism and self-criticism, get rid
of conservatism, and score greater achievements. The whole party must be
prepared, the whole people must be prepared.