Annotation on a Letter from Zhang Shizhao[I]
(5 July 1959)

Comrade Jingquan[1]:
Here are three letters. Please have a look. Upon your return, see to it that the responsible persons of the Sichuan Research Institute of Culture and History handle this matter conscientiously. If there are no major improprieties, it would be advisable to admit him, so that he may put his learning in order, which would be more beneficial. What do you think? Please act at your discretion.

Mao Zedong
5 July 1959

[1] Zhang Shizhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, wrote to Mao Zedong on 3 July 1959, saying: "I have just received a letter from Liu Borong of Xiangtan, and am greatly astonished. This gentleman, named Pu, has indeed devoted himself to the study of the Mohist school. His natural disposition is not particularly lofty, yet he applies himself with extreme diligence. It has been three years since I last had any news of Borong. Through the long months and years, he has been consistently shut out beyond the doors and walls of the Research Institute of Culture and History, which is truly difficult to fathom." Zhang Shizhao forwarded Liu Borong's letter to Mao Zedong, requesting that he read it. Liu Borong was formerly a professor at Sichuan University and was later transferred to work at the Sichuan Research Institute of Culture and History.

[2] Li Jingquan was then serving as First Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.