Suggestion on the Method of Grouping Personnel
(July 16, 1959)

Comrades Shaoqi, Enlai, Shangkun[1]:

I suggest that the comrades from Beijing who are participating in the various regional groups change their groups today. For example: those in the East China group should switch to the Central-South and South China joint group or another region; those in the Northwest group should switch to East China or elsewhere, and so on. Immediately draw up a new list today, and starting tomorrow, proceed according to the new list. By doing so, their exposure will become much broader, which may be of great benefit.

As for the provincial party secretaries of the various regions, should a portion of them (for instance, half or one-third) also follow this method and switch to other regions to broaden their exposure? I leave this for you to decide at your discretion; I have no fixed opinion. Would it be advisable for you to convene a brief discussion with the heads of the various regions and a few comrades from the Central Committee to facilitate a decision? An hour’s discussion should suffice.

Mao Zedong
6:00 a.m., July 16

[1] Refers to the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee then being held at Lushan.
[2] Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, then serving as alternate secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the Central Committee.