Telegram to Wilhelm Pieck
(October 9, 1957)

Source: Kau & Leung, The Writings of Mao Zedong 1949-1976, Vol. II
Pages 723-723
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OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 1957 / 721

sion. We have different roots from those of the Rightists. We are always promoters
of progress, forever. If we [at any time] want to promote regression, it is only to be
temporary and localized. For example, the [idea of having] six million sets of
double-shared plows—in the program for agricultural development>2 has been
[dropped through the] promotion of regression. But, for the elimination of mosquitoes, flies, rats, and sparrows, I have and always will uphold it.

6. On the issue of the contradiction between the two roads°? [—between the
roads of] the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. This is the primary contradiction;>4
there is no question about that. In the past [the struggle was] against imperialism
and against feudalism; and that has already been resolved. Now it is the socialist
revolution. The main thrust of the socialist revolution is to eliminate the bourgeois
system of exploitation. In the countryside it is to reform the petty bourgeoisie. The
central question [here] is to resolve the contradictions between individualism and
collectivism, and between socialism and capitalism, through cooperativization.

7. The Resolution of the Eighth Congress did not deny that [there is a] class
struggle in the transitional period of socialism in which [the contradiction between]
the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is the primary contradiction. The analysis of the
Eighth Congress was in reference to the forces of production. [It was said the
primary contradiction was] the contradiction between an advanced social system and
backward forces of production. Although this sentence is not sufficiently complete or
sound, we gained benefit from [its being said,] and no harm has come [of it].°° The
Second Plenum of the Seventh Central Committee pointed out that the basic contradiction within the country was the contradiction between the bourgeoisie and the
proletariat; from our current perspective that was very correct.>®

Notes

1. The Chinese original here contains, we think, a typographical error. It has the
character ge where we believe it should read man.

2. See text Oct. 9, 19571), note 1.

3. The character translated here as “bloom” is fang. See text Oct. 9, 1957(1), note 2.

4. The character here is gai, which is half of the term zheng gat which appears in the
other version of this speech. See text Oct. 9, 1957(1), note 3.

5. See text Oct. 9, 1957(1), note 4. In the current version, however, the text reads da
-heng (translated as “big competing”) where the other version has da dian [un (big debates).

6. Ina comparable passage in the other version, Mao puts this campaign together with
others and mentions the Five Major Movements, of which land reform is one. See text Oct.
9, 1957(1), note 5.

7. See text Oct. 9, 1957(1). note 6.

8. Here the Chinese original has a typographical error. The character for s/ in da shi da fei
is the character s/i (meaning “thing”’) where it should be the character s/i (meaning “correct”).

9. See text Oct. 9, 1957(1), note 7.

10. The Chinese here reads ma de gouxue lintou, which is an extremely vulgar aphorism
literally meaning “having dog’s blood rain down on one’s head.” It is derived from the
thirty-ninth /i of the Qing-dynasty reprimanding novel Xing shi yinyuan (A Tale of Causes
and Effects to Awaken the Age).