Comment on "The Situation of Study and Discussion in Various Localities Regarding Comrade Shaoqi's Report" [1] (June 23, 1958)

Comrade Chen Boda [2]:

Please arrange a meeting with Comrades Dingyi, Kang Sheng, Qiaomu, Hu Sheng, Deng Liqun, and Tian Jiaying [3], to take the issues listed in the first article of this issue, mainly the issues in sections eight, nine, and ten, read them over on the spot, and analyze them issue by issue on the spot. Four or five hours should be sufficient. Then I hope you will have a talk with me! These issues are worthy of attention, do not ignore them.

Mao Zedong
June 23

Published according to the manuscript.

Notes

[1] This comment was written on the cover of issue no. of *Internal Reference* compiled and printed by the Xinhua News Agency on June 20, 1958. This issue of *Internal Reference* carried an article titled "The Situation of Study and Discussion in Various Localities Regarding Comrade Shaoqi's Report," which synthesized in ten aspects the questions raised in various localities during the study and discussion of Liu Shaoqi's report to the Second Session of the Eighth National Congress. The questions raised in sections one through seven were: on the distinction and connection between the general line for the transition period and the general line for socialist construction; on the basic spirit of the general line for socialist construction; on building socialism with greater, faster, better, and more economical results; on the basic points of the general line; on breaking down superstitions; on the "saddle shape"; on the question of intellectuals. Section eight was on the principal contradiction in the transition period. The article said: The First Session of the Eighth National Congress proposed: "The principal domestic contradiction is the contradiction between the advanced social system and the backward productive forces." The Second Session of the Eighth National Congress proposed: "The contradiction between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, between the socialist road and the capitalist road, is the principal contradiction in the transition period." The formulations of the two sessions are inconsistent, which one is correct? Some people believe that the formulation of the First Session of the Eighth National Congress was wrong, that the Central Committee's assessment of the situation at the time was overly optimistic, but others believe it was correct, because at that time the bourgeoisie accepted socialist transformation by beating gongs and drums, and at that time, strategically, it was not possible nor should it have been proposed that the contradiction between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat was the principal contradiction of the transition period. But some people ask, since it is said that the socialist revolution has already achieved a decisive victory on the political, economic, and ideological fronts, this means that the question of whether or not to have socialism has been basically resolved. If it is acknowledged that this understanding is correct, why is it still said that the principal domestic contradiction is the struggle between the two roads? Since the principal contradiction in the future is the struggle between the two roads, why is it also said that the main tasks in the future are the technological revolution and the cultural revolution? Why are the principal contradiction and the main tasks inconsistent? What will be the law of class struggle in the future? What kind of concept of the enemy situation should we establish? Section nine was on the international situation. The article said, some people expressed doubts about the East wind prevailing over the West wind; some people believed that a third world war would definitely occur and lacked confidence that war is not destined to be inevitable. Section ten, other issues, including: on the question of planting red flags and pulling up white flags; on the question of how leading cadres should appear in the manner of ordinary laborers; lack of ideological preparation for the fact that the continuous revolution and socialist construction still require carrying out mass movements, many cadres have feelings of weariness toward one movement following another after liberation; is the principal contradiction on a worldwide scale at present the contradiction within the imperialist camp or the contradiction between the socialist camp and the imperialist camp? Chairman Mao proposed "continuous revolution," what is the difference between this and the "theory of two revolutions" proposed by Chen Duxiu, etc.

[2] Chen Boda was at that time Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and editor of *Red Flag* magazine.

[3] Dingyi, namely Lu Dingyi, was at that time Head of the Culture and Education Group of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee. Kang Sheng was at that time Deputy Head of the Culture and Education Group of the CPC Central Committee. Qiaomu, namely Hu Qiaomu, was at that time an alternate secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. Hu Sheng was at that time Deputy Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and a standing editor of *Red Flag* magazine. Deng Liqun was at that time a standing editor of *Red Flag* magazine. Tian Jiaying was at that time Deputy Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and a standing editor of *Red Flag* magazine.