Amendments to the Draft Comment by the Central Committee on the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee’s Report Concerning Withdrawal from Cooperatives [1] (December 24, 1956) It has never been prudent for cooperatives in various localities to rush affluent middle peasants into membership or simply allow them to join. In accordance with the policy set forth in Comrade Mao Zedong’s report of July 31, 1955 [2], the proper course was first to admit a portion of the more politically conscious poor and lower-middle peasants, followed by the majority of the less politically aware among these same groups—in successive stages—while refraining from hasty efforts to bring affluent middle peasants into the cooperatives. Later, during the peak of the cooperative movement, some affluent middle peasants were reluctantly induced to join; under those circumstances, it was indeed difficult to dissuade them. This year, their share of the proceeds has generally declined, leading to widespread complaints and prompting certain individuals to request withdrawal from the cooperatives. The Central Committee believes that permitting a select group—not the majority, still less all—of affluent middle peasants who are firmly determined to leave to do so would not only be harmless but also beneficial. We ask you to consider the feasibility of this policy. Should you deem it feasible, please resolve to allow a limited number of members to withdraw. Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript. Notes [1] This is an additional passage added by Mao Zedong when reviewing the draft comment of the CPC Central Committee on the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee’s report of December 4, 1956, concerning the issue of withdrawal from cooperatives. On December 24 of the same year, the Central Committee forwarded the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee’s report.

[2] Refers to Mao Zedong’s report “On the Question of Agricultural Collectivization,” delivered on July 31, 1955, at a meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee attended by secretaries of provincial, municipal, and autonomous regional party committees. See Volume V of this collection, pp. 34–2.