Commentary on Bo Yibo’s Letter Reflecting the Situation of the People’s Commune in His Hometown [1] (October 8, 1959) To be circulated to all comrades of the Secretariat of the Political Bureau.
Mao Zedong October 8 Shangkun [2] Office.
Printed from the manuscript.
Notes [1] Bo Yibo was a native of Dingxiang County, Shanxi Province.
At that time he served as an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and as Vice Premier of the State Council.
On October 7, 1959, he wrote to Mao Zedong: “Comrade Han Shengzhi, secretary of the Party committee of the Heping People’s Commune in my hometown, has sent me a letter, which I found most exhilarating: First, grain production has increased substantially since the commune was established, and industrial development is also going well; second, this year each person has been allocated an average of thirty jin of wheat (after the state procurement quota had been met); in my hometown, however, the staple food is coarse grains; third, there are fifty-nine communal canteens, suggesting that virtually everyone is now eating at them; fourth, the masses are in high spirits; and so forth.
I am having this encouraging letter typed up and sending it to you for your perusal.” [2] Shangkun refers to Yang Shangkun, who at the time was an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and director of the Central Office.