--- Notes

Central Directive Forwarding the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee’s Briefing on Grain and Market Conditions (August 30, 1959)

I. This document [1] is to be distributed as follows: one copy to each member of the Political Bureau Secretariat; several copies to each central-level commission, office, ministry, people’s organization, the Xinhua News Agency, and the Party organizations of the People’s Daily; and one copy to each participant in the Expanded Military Commission Meeting and the Foreign Affairs Meeting. In addition, it is to be transmitted by telegram to the party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions for their reference. Right-leaning opportunists and anti-Party elements are utterly unable to discern the main current of our socialist cause. Clutching at trifles as banners, they launch frenzied attacks against the great Party and the great cause of the people—truly a case of “an ant trying to shake a giant tree, laughable in its self-ignorance.” Recently we have received numerous reports from provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, all indicating that evil forces are waning while upright spirit is rising, with victorious news pouring in and momentum greatly strengthened, much like in Guizhou. Therefore, this report is relatively short and easy to read, and has been selected for distribution to comrades. Further selections will follow in due course. Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript on August 30 by the Central Committee.

II. After Liu and Peng Zhen [2] have reviewed it, Shangkun [3] is to proceed immediately. Several thousand copies are to be printed. Printed from the manuscript by Mao.

Notes [1] The main content of this briefing, sent by the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee to the Central Committee and to Mao Zedong on August 27, 1959, is as follows: I. Grain Issues: 1. In the first half of this year, grain supply work was inspected and rectified in accordance with central directives, systems were improved, wasteful practices were overcome, and the state of tension has now been resolved. 2. To ensure the completion of this year’s autumn grain procurement target, every possible measure must be taken without delay to intensify grain production and secure a bountiful autumn harvest; all preparatory work prior to storage must be thoroughly carried out; the policy of rapid harvesting, threshing, procurement, and transportation must be strictly implemented; and grain procurement should be designated as a central task for the party committee for a specific period, with all efforts concentrated on its timely fulfillment. II. Market Issues: In the first half of the year, the province’s market situation was generally stable. There has been a marked increase in both the variety and quantity of daily-use industrial goods, and their quality has also improved. At present, commercial work is further implementing central directives, opposing rightist tendencies, placing politics at the helm, vigorously conducting mass movements, accelerating procurement and sales, improving business management, enhancing service quality, and striving to further improve market conditions in anticipation of the Tenth Anniversary of National Day. [2] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Peng Zhen was then a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and a secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat. [3] Shangkun refers to Yang Shangkun, who at that time served as an alternate secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.