Comments on the Issue of the Anti-Right Deviation Struggle
(October 22 and 23, 1959)

Comrades Peng Zhen and Shangkun:[1]
This issue[2] does not mention the situation in the various units directly under the Central Committee. I wonder if these three types of situations also exist there? Please attend to this promptly and ensure that this struggle is carried out in depth.

Mao Zedong
October 22

[1] Peng Zhen was then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee. Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, was then an alternate secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, director of the General Office of the Central Committee, and secretary of the Party Committee of Organs Directly Under the Central Committee.
[2] This refers to the article "Three Situations Exist in the Leadership of the Anti-Right Deviation Struggle in Various Departments of Central State Organs," reprinted in *Situation Bulletin* No. 102, compiled and printed by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on October 19, 1959. The article pointed out that the leadership of the anti-right deviation struggle in various departments of central state organs could be divided into three situations: First, the leadership has both the determination and the methods to carry the movement through deeply and thoroughly, forming strong leadership over the movement. Such units account for approximately 80 percent. Second, the masses have been generally mobilized, but the leadership lacks determination and methods, unable to form strong leadership. Such units account for approximately 10 percent. Third, the masses have not been mobilized, and the leadership itself has problems, being timid about launching the struggle, causing the movement to progress very slowly. Such units also account for approximately 10 percent. This first comment was written on this bulletin.

Have read. Send to Comrades Shaoqi and Peng Zhen for reading, then return to Shangkun for filing.
[1]
Mao Zedong
Morning of October 23

Comrade Shangkun:
The organs directly under the Central Committee must closely connect with the state organs and draw on their experience. Their drive is very strong.
Mao Zedong
October 23
[1] This comment was written on the report of the Party Committee of Organs Directly Under the CPC Central Committee, dated October 23, 1959, on the situation of launching the anti-right deviation struggle in the organs directly under the Central Committee. The report stated that the overall situation of the rectification and study movement against right opportunism and in defense of the Party's general line launched in the organs directly under the Central Committee was still good, but in some organs, the progress was still relatively slow and not sufficiently forceful. Therefore, we have put forward the following requirements for the organs directly under the Central Committee: First, it must be recognized that this struggle is an extremely profound struggle between the two lines during the period of socialist construction, and leading comrades of all organs must make up their minds, take personal command, and press forward vigorously. Second, the masses must be boldly mobilized to put up big-character posters. The key to mobilizing the masses is for the leadership to set an example and take the lead in self-examination. Third, the dogmatic method of studying documents in a general way without linking them to actual ideological problems must be opposed. Fourth, the various right-leaning thoughts that hinder the development of the movement must be constantly opposed, and the struggle must be carried out deeply and thoroughly. This third comment was also written on this report.