Comrades Attending the Shanghai Conference[1] Are Requested to Read Bo Yibo’s Draft Speech — A Note of Instruction

(March 26, 1959)

Comrades Shaoqi and Xiaoping:[3]

Bo Yibo’s speech[4] has been printed, and I am currently reading it. This morning, please distribute the printed copies of Bo’s speech to all comrades for reading, so that they may gain some preliminary impressions. When we convene at three or four o’clock this afternoon and everyone listens to Yibo read his draft aloud, they will thereby obtain a better inspiration and understanding. It must be understood that many comrades have had no prior exposure to this issue, and their psychological states vary. Please act accordingly as requested!

Mao Zedong
March 26, 2:00 a.m.

[1] Refers to the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in Shanghai from March 25 to April 1, 1959.
[2] Bo Yibo, then serving as...