Notes on Controlling the Number of Advanced Cooperatives [1] (January 19, 1956) First send to Comrade Liao Luyan [2] for handling; I concur with Comrade Wang Renzhong’s view [3] to keep the number around ten thousand. Then forward to Comrades Deng Tao [4] of the People’s Daily and Wu Lengxi [ ] of Xinhua News Agency, with instructions to exercise restraint in publicity.

Mao Zedong, January 19, printed from the manuscript.

Notes [1] These notes were written on a report submitted by Liao Luyan on January 19, 1956, conveying a telephone inquiry from Wang Renzhong to Mao Zedong regarding the issue of controlling the number of advanced cooperatives to be developed in Hubei Province. The report stated that a conference of secretaries of prefectural party committees was currently being held in Hubei. On the question of advanced collectivization, some comrades supported the provincial committee’s plan: to develop ten thousand advanced cooperatives before spring plowing (covering 25 to 30 percent of all farming households), with further expansion planned after the autumn harvest; while others advocated a more rapid drive to establish advanced cooperatives, aiming to reach 70 or 80 percent of all farming households and essentially complete advanced collectivization. Wang Renzhong believed that proceeding according to the provincial committee’s plan would be the more prudent course. In his report, Liao Luyan expressed agreement with Wang Renzhong’s position. Wang Renzhong also noted in the telephone conversation that recent publicity in certain newspapers had, to some extent, stimulated impetuous sentiments among some cadres.

[2] Liao Luyan was at the time Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Department of Rural Work and Minister of Agriculture.

[3] Wang Renzhong was then First Secretary of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee.

[4] Deng Tao was at the time Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Daily.

[5] Wu Lengxi was at the time President of the Xinhua News Agency.