Critique Notes on the Draft of the "Resolution Concerning the Errors of Comrade Peng Dehuai[1]" for the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee
(August 11–16, 1959)

Return to Comrade Hu Qiaomu. There are some minor revisions.
Mao Zedong
August 11

[1]
Peng Dehuai,
at that time served as Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Minister of National Defense.
In August 1959, at the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the CPC, he was erroneously designated as part of the so-called "Peng Dehuai, Huang Kecheng, Zhang Wentian, Zhou Xiaozhou Anti-Party Clique."
On June 27, 1981, the "Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China," adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, pointed out: "The resolution of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee concerning the so-called 'Peng Dehuai, Huang Kecheng, Zhang Wentian, Zhou Xiaozhou Anti-Party Clique' was completely erroneous."
[2]
Items 1 and 2 of this text are critiques respectively written on two revised drafts of the "Resolution of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Concerning the Errors of Comrade Peng Dehuai" (Draft); Item 3 of this text is a critique on the revised draft of this resolution sent for review by Hu Qiaomu, Alternate Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Mao Zedong's secretary, at 4:30 AM on August 16, 1959. On this draft, the title of the resolution was changed to "Resolution of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Concerning the Errors of the Anti-Party Clique Headed by Comrade Peng Dehuai."
[3]
Mao Zedong made only individual textual revisions to this draft resolution sent for review by Hu Qiaomu on August 10, 1958.

Return immediately to Comrade Qiaomu:
Print immediately and distribute to all comrades attending the meeting tonight.
Mao Zedong
7:00 PM, August 14

Comrade Peng Zhen[1]:
Print and distribute immediately according to this. The other three resolutions[2] and one communiqué[3]—please supervise and carry out the final revision immediately, ensuring distribution to all comrades by the afternoon of tomorrow (the 17th), so that when the comrades depart to return on the 18th, they can take them back and act accordingly.
Mao Zedong
5:00 AM, August 16

[1]
Peng Zhen, at that time served as Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Secretariat.
[2]
Refers to "Struggle to Defend the Party's General Line and Oppose Right-Opportunism" (Resolution of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China), "Resolution of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Launching a Campaign to Increase Production and Practice Economy," and "Decision of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Removing Comrade Huang Kecheng from His Post as Secretary of the Central Secretariat."
[3]
Refers to the "Communiqué of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China."