Comments on the Report of the Central Military Commission Concerning Raw Materials for the Military Industry (July 21, 1959) — Distributed to All Comrades.
This is an important proposal [1] and should be acted upon.
Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript, July 21.

Note [1]: The report submitted by the Central Military Commission of the CPC to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee on July 4, 1959, concerning raw materials for the military industry, stated that in recent times the development of the national defense industry has encountered numerous difficulties, the most prominent of which is the problem of ensuring adequate quantities, varieties, and specifications of raw materials.
This has become the key factor determining whether the national defense industry can continue to develop rapidly.
The main cause of the raw-materials shortage lies in the imbalance between the growth of metallic and nonmetallic materials and their respective varieties and quantities, which inevitably results in an incomplete range of materials and nonconforming specifications in supply.
Therefore, we recommend that the nation’s raw-materials industry, while continuing to increase output, allocate part of its resources to the active development of new varieties and specifications of both metallic and nonmetallic materials, improve quality, and fill existing gaps.
To resolve this contradiction, a balanced plan must be drawn up first.
With regard to the management system, it is suggested that nonmetallic materials be coordinated and centrally planned by the Ministry of Chemical Industry.
In terms of capital construction as well, the principle of combining large, medium, and small enterprises should be consistently applied.
Only by accelerating the development of small and medium-sized enterprises can the supply-demand imbalance be resolved more quickly and effectively.