Comment on Change of Work[2]
(March 30, 1959)

I and everyone agree with the views expressed in this letter[3] regarding the change of work. The Central Committee has proposed that Comrade Dong Biwu serve as Vice Chairman of the People’s Republic, Comrade Liu Shaoqi serve as Chairman, and Comrade Zhu De serve as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. This proposal will be submitted to the Central Committee plenum for discussion, after which a decision will be made. This proposal was put forward during an exchange of views among the Standing Committee of the Central Committee on March 29, with the participation of several other comrades from the Central Committee and comrades serving as heads of the greater administrative regions. All those present unanimously agreed to this course of action, believing it to be beneficial to both the Party and the state. The new work for these comrades carries great responsibility, high honor, and considerable renown, but in reality it means hard toil. I hope the comrades will undertake these difficult tasks, bear these burdens for the Party, and serve the people with dedication.

Mao Zedong
6:00 a.m., March 30

[1] Dong Biwu was then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Central Control Commission, President of the Supreme People’s Court, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. On April 27, 1959, at the First Session of the Second National People’s Congress, he was elected Vice Chairman of the People’s Republic of China.
[2] Mao Zedong revised the title of this comment to “Comrade Dong Biwu’s Letter of Resignation.”
[3] In a letter to Mao Zedong dated March 25, 1959, Dong Biwu wrote: “This Central Committee plenum will discuss the candidates for leading state organs. In October last year, I wrote to Comrades Xiaoping and Peng Zhen, requesting them to relay to the Central Committee my wish not to be recommended again as a candidate for President of the Supreme People’s Court at the Second National People’s Congress, and asking the Central Committee to consider my ability and physical strength and not assign me any actual duties in state organs. I have already been elected a deputy to the National People’s Congress and am listed as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. It would suffice for me to have a nominal position in the CPPCC in the future, one without actual work responsibilities. I discussed this intention with Comrade Peng Zhen in person in the winter of 1957. I earnestly request once again that the Chairman support my request when considering the candidates for leading state organs.”