Forwarded Comment on Zhang Tixue’s [1] Report on the Distribution of Grain to Households in Hubei and Other Situations
(20 June 1959)

This document [2] is to be sent by Comrade Shangkun [3] via telegram to the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions for study. Grain must be distributed to each household. In addition, great efforts must be made to grasp non-staple foods and daily-use industrial goods, and to restore handicrafts.

Mao Zedong
20 June

[1] Zhang Tixue, then Governor of Hubei Province.
[2] Refers to Zhang Tixue’s telephone report in the early morning of 16 June 1959 on the storage of wheat, the distribution of grain to households, the grasping of handicrafts, and other situations. Zhang Tixue stated that the threshing of wheat in Hubei was nearly complete, progress in storage was not very rapid and was being grasped. After grain was distributed to households according to per capita graded rations, the situation changed greatly: team cadres and peasants were overjoyed, while brigade and commune cadres still had some reservations. The provincial Party committee has now decided to meet directly with the masses. It can be carried through. Many fishermen have returned to their teams, and people have begun fishing on the lakes. After some attention was given to handicrafts, output has increased somewhat. On the same day, Vice Premier and Minister of Finance Li Xiannian relayed the content of this telephone call to Zhou Enlai. Mao Zedong’s comment was written on Li Xiannian’s report.
[3] Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, then Alternate Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee.