I
Send to Comrade Qiaomu [2] for handling as proposed.
(Printed from Mao Zedong's manuscript.)

II
The "airing of views" by the Rightists is aimed at attacking the socialist system and overthrowing the leadership of the proletariat and the Communist Party. Since this is the case, the working class, the laboring people, and the revolutionary intellectuals cannot but resolutely launch a counterattack. Some say, isn't the Party asking others to help it rectify its style of work? How come the rectification is now being directed at others? True, the Party will continue to invite the broad masses to help it rectify its style of work. This is beyond doubt, must be persisted in to the end, and will inevitably be persisted in to the end. But can the reactionary words and deeds of the anti-socialist bourgeois Rightists be protected and exempted from criticism? If revolutionary leaders in all circles fail to be vigilant against and recognize anti-socialist statements and actions (no matter what sacred names they borrow), and fail to deliver head-on blows, what sense of responsibility do such revolutionaries have for the people's cause?

III
There is already ample evidence proving that certain individuals have long harbored ulterior motives. Not only do they disapprove of the socialist revolution, but they have also long disapproved of the thorough democratic revolution against imperialism and feudalism. Therefore, a debate is unavoidable in any case. There has always been a debate, and a debate of a fundamental nature that brooks no ambiguity. Is it better to carry it on covertly and in the dark, or to lay it out openly on the table? Clearly, the former is not good, while the latter is good. Superficially avoiding this debate will in no way help us smoothly build a socialist society. On the contrary, through this debate, people's true colors will be revealed, and this will educate the broad masses. In this way, the understanding of socialism in political circles, intellectual circles, and all sectors of society will be greatly enhanced, the unity among the people will be further strengthened, and the socialist system will become more consolidated than before.

(Printed from the *People's Daily*, June 22, 1957. Includes Mao Zedong's revisions.)

**Notes**
[1] "An Unusual Spring" is an editorial in the *People's Daily* dated June 22, 1957. Mao Zedong made revisions when reviewing the first and second proof copies of this article. Part (I) of this text is Mao's instruction written after revising the second proof copy; Parts (II) and (III) are revisions made on the proof copy, with the text in Song typeface representing Mao's rewritten and added words.
[2] Qiaomu refers to Hu Qiaomu, who was then an alternate secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Mao Zedong's secretary.