Letter to Huang Yanpei [1]
(January 21, 1959)

Mr. Renzhi:
Your kind letter and esteemed work were received and read some time ago. I am very grateful! A minor ailment in recent days has delayed my reply; I trust you will forgive me.
With salutations of
respect!
Mao Zedong
January 21, 1959

[1] Huang Yanpei, courtesy name Renzhi, was then serving as Chairman of the China Democratic National Construction Association, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Comments and Revisions on the Draft Notice [1]
(January 22, 1959)

Issue it first, then send it to Comrade Shaoqi for reading.
Mao

[1] Refers to the draft “Several Circular Notices of the Central Committee on Current Press and Periodical Propaganda Work” submitted for approval by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on January 20, 1959. The draft notice stated: The following issues should be paid attention to in current press and periodical propaganda: (1) Continued full publicity should be given to the achievements of the 1958 Great Leap Forward and the superiority of the people’s communes. In propaganda, attention should be paid to scientific analysis, and every effort should be made to guard against boastfulness and exaggeration, but it should not be done in a desultory manner; rather, it should be fervent and vigorous. (2) Propaganda must continue to pay attention to encouraging full effort and enthusiasm, but excessively many planned targets of various localities for this year should not be published. (3) In the first half of this year, newspapers and periodicals should only emphasize achievements and positive aspects in propaganda work, and generally should not report on negative aspects. (4) In propaganda, a modest attitude should be continuously maintained; claims of surpassing international levels should not be casually promoted, and when publicizing scientific and technological achievements, brotherly countries must not be disparaged.

[2] When reviewing this draft notice, Mao Zedong added a paragraph after the third point therein, which constitutes Part Two of this text, and changed the date of the draft notice to “January 22, 1959.” On the same day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued this circular notice.