Central Instructions on Organizing Discussions of the Revised Draft National Agricultural Development Program (October 26, 1957)

To Party Committees at All Levels:  The revised Forty Articles of the Agricultural Program have been published today. You should take note of the following:

(1) Launch a broad discussion throughout the entire population—in rural areas, factories, government organs, schools, the armed forces, and among residents of urban neighborhoods—aimed at clarifying our direction, strengthening our confidence, mobilizing everyone to make strenuous efforts, and transforming China.

(2) The rural discussions should be held during the winter, so as to ignite a surge in production and secure a bumper harvest in 1958. A period of roughly seven to ten evenings will suffice; each evening should focus on a few articles, with views being solicited. During the discussions, one person should read each article aloud, followed by deliberation on that particular article.

(3) The methods for conducting discussions in factories, neighborhoods, government organs, schools, and the armed forces should broadly follow the approach used in rural areas.

(4) Local issues should be incorporated into local plans at the appropriate levels; it is not feasible to include them all in the national program. This point should be explained at the conclusion of the discussions.

(5) The amendment proposals put forward by the masses should be analyzed by the provincial, directly administered municipal, and autonomous regional party committees, which will then report their findings to the Central Committee.

(6) This debate should run parallel to the “letting off steam” debates of the Rectification Campaign, but the two should be scheduled separately, with a dedicated period reserved exclusively for discussing the Program.

(7) More time should be devoted to issues of greatest public interest, while topics attracting less interest should be discussed for a shorter duration.

(8) The democratic parties, intellectuals, and industrialists and merchants should see to it that they are organized to participate in the discussions.

The Central Committee October 26, 1957  Printed from Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.