--- Notes

Comments on Zhou Yang’s Speech at the Enlarged Meeting of the CPC Writers Association Party Group〔1〕 (November 24, 1957)

After Comrade Zhou Yang has read this, please immediately forward it to Comrade Hu Qiaomu〔2〕 for transmission to Comrade Xiaoping〔3〕: I briefly discussed this matter with you〔4〕 the day before yesterday. It should be circulated to all comrades attending the meeting headed by Xiaoping, so that they may conduct one or two serious discussions (having carefully studied Zhou’s document beforehand), make precise revisions, and then publish it. Before publication, it may be submitted to me for review once more. During the meeting’s deliberations, Zhou Yang and several other leading comrades in the literary and artistic fields should be present. Please inform Xiaoping of this and see that it is carried out. Mao Zedong November 24

This is a major issue and should not be treated lightly. I will not examine it at this time. I will review it again after Xiaoping’s meeting has held its discussions and further revisions have been made. Printed from the manuscript.

Notes 〔1〕 Refers to the speech entitled “Different Worldviews, Different Paths,” delivered by Zhou Yang, Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Propaganda Department and Secretary of the CPC Writers Association Party Group, at the enlarged meeting of the CPC Writers Association Party Group on September 16, 1957. Following comments from Mao Zedong and others, the draft was revised and resubmitted to Mao Zedong for review on November 20. The speech was subsequently published in the People’s Daily on February 28, 1958, under the title “A Great Debate on the Literary and Artistic Front.” 〔2〕 Hu Qiaomu, who at the time served as an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and as Mao Zedong’s secretary. 〔3〕 Xiaoping refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at the time held the post of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. 〔4〕 Refers to Hu Qiaomu.