Temporary Communication [1] (April 23, 1958)

I. To Comrades in the Secretariats of the Provincial Committees, Municipal Committees under their jurisdiction, and Autonomous Region Committees:  Please immediately conduct a preliminary study of the local industrial targets for your province, municipality, or autonomous region during the Second Five-Year Plan period—specifically, what levels of output in both heavy and light industry your locality might reach by the end of the plan. Prepare a table to this effect and bring it to Beijing before May 5, while the Party Congress is in session, so that we may discuss it. A dozen or so key indicators will suffice; there is no need for more.  Also, please examine and include in the same table the current ratio of industrial to agricultural output, as well as the projected ratio by the end of the plan. In addition to the table, prepare a written explanation of two to three thousand characters to be appended thereto.  With some urgent effort, seven to ten days should be ample time to complete this task. You already have a certain foundation; with a bit of pushing, it should not be too difficult.  Upon your arrival in Beijing, earnestly instruct the cadres remaining behind—who are capable—to continue studying industrial matters without interruption.  During the months of April, May, and June, the work of the provincial, municipal, and autonomous region committees should, in accordance with the agreements reached at the Chengdu and Wuchang Meetings, shift the primary focus to industries, transportation, finance and trade, culture and education, and the military—sectors that have previously been neglected. A preliminary review of each of these areas, lasting about one week or two to three days, will be sufficient; more in-depth studies can be undertaken in the autumn and winter, with still deeper investigations planned for next spring. The approach should be to use political leadership to drive practical work, and to proceed from the abstract to the concrete. As for agriculture, over the next few months this matter may be entrusted to the secretary responsible for agricultural affairs; the first secretary need only provide general guidance and make a few brief arrangements, since substantial preparations were already made last winter and this spring.  If you concur with the above points, please act accordingly.  This communication is being transmitted by telephone.  Mao Zedong, Year Month Day, printed from the manuscript.

II. Liu and Deng [2] have reviewed it. Luo Guanglu [3], acting on instructions, notified Yang Shangkun [4] by telephone, who was then instructed to immediately convey these directives to all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions via telephone.  ·· Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

Notes [1] This is a letter written by Mao Zedong to the secretaries of the provincial, municipal, and autonomous region committees prior to the Second Plenary Session of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The title was proposed by Mao Zedong.  [2] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at the time served as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council.  [3] Luo Guanglu was, at the time, Mao Zedong’s confidential secretary.  [4] Yang Shangkun was, at the time, an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and Director of the Central Office.