Central Instructions on Soliciting Assistance from Non-Party Persons in the Rectification Campaign (May 4, 1957)  To the Shanghai Bureau, all Provincial Committees, Municipal Committees directly under the Central Committee, Autonomous Region Party Committees, various central ministries and commissions, and the Party Groups of state organs and people’s organizations:

Over the past two months, the discussions held at meetings attended by non-party figures and in newspapers and periodicals—analyzing contradictions among the people and criticizing the mistakes and shortcomings of the Party and the government—have been extremely beneficial in helping the Party and the People’s Government correct their errors and enhance their prestige. These discussions should be continued and deepened; they must not be halted or interrupted. Of course, where criticisms are incorrect, or where a particular critique contains some erroneous views, counter-criticism is warranted. We should not allow wrong ideas to spread unchallenged; responses must be carefully considered in terms of timing and presented in an analytical, thoroughly persuasive manner. Nevertheless, the majority of the criticisms have been pertinent and constructive, greatly contributing to the consolidation of unity and the improvement of our work. Even erroneous criticisms serve a useful purpose by revealing certain individuals’ true character, thus enabling us to assist them in their ideological transformation in the future.

Now that the rectification campaign has begun, the Central Committee has reached an understanding with the leaders of the democratic parties and non-affiliated personages: for the time being—at least over the next few months—they are to refrain from expressing formal positions or calling for a rectification movement within the democratic parties or in society at large. Instead, they are to continue voicing criticism of our Party’s shortcomings and errors, thereby facilitating our own rectification effort. Otherwise, such a move would be detrimental to our campaign (for without social pressure, the rectification drive would hardly achieve its intended results). They have agreed to this approach. Once our Party successfully completes the rectification, it will gain complete initiative, at which point we can then promote rectification throughout all sectors of society—beginning with the intellectual community. Please bear this point in mind.

The participation of non-party persons in our Party’s rectification symposiums and working groups is intended to invite their suggestions and criticisms, not to encourage them to criticize themselves. This distinction also requires your attention. If there are practical difficulties in this regard, it would be preferable not to include non-party members in the rectification teams, but rather for the Party to convene separate symposiums with them, inviting them to speak freely and offer candid feedback on shortcomings and errors in our work. Please make appropriate arrangements in light of local conditions.

Issued by the Central Committee on May 4, 1957, based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.