Comments on Materials Regarding the Transition of People’s Communes’ Ownership in Certain Areas (December 27, 1959) 1. This document [1] is extremely good.
All comrades should read it.
I reviewed it this morning and we will discuss it this afternoon.
Mao Zedong, 6:00 a.m. on the 27th; returned directly after use.
Printed from the original manuscript. 2. Please Comrade Tian Jiaying [2] locate the two resolutions adopted by the People’s Communes at Beidaihe and Wuchang [3], and bring them along this afternoon.
We look forward to it. … 3. [4] Question: Is it feasible to achieve commune-level collectivization within five years and state ownership within ten years? … Printed according to Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

Notes [1] Refers to Issue No. 258 of the “Briefing on Current Situations,” compiled and printed by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on December 22, 1959.
This issue included three articles: “A Small Number of Communes and Production Teams in the Three Northeastern Provinces Have Already Transitioned to Full Public Ownership or Basic Commune Ownership”; “The Situation of Shunjiang People’s Commune in Sichuan Province in Implementing Basic Commune Ownership and Its Three-Year Plan for Transition to Full Public Ownership”; and “The Liuzhou Prefectural Party Committee of Guangxi Has Proposed Developing the Commune-Owned Economy Along Ten Lines.”
The first article stated that recently, relevant comrades from the Central Rural Work Department had visited the three northeastern provinces to investigate the progress of the transition in people’s communes.
Generally speaking, a small proportion of communes and teams (or management zones) had already shifted from basic team ownership to basic commune ownership or full public ownership, with commune-owned economies developing exceptionally rapidly.
For another small group of communes and production teams, such a change in ownership was already inevitable.
The second article reported that during this spring’s rectification of Shunjiang People’s Commune in Neijiang County, Sichuan Province, the decision was made to pilot basic commune ownership, which greatly boosted the commune’s agricultural and industrial production as well as other undertakings.
On this basis, the commune party committee, together with the masses, drew up a three-year plan to transition to full public ownership.
The third article noted that, drawing on existing experience, the Liuzhou Prefectural Party Committee of Guangxi proposed that the current direction for developing people’s commune ownership should primarily involve vigorously establishing commune-run enterprises, increasing accumulation, and promoting the integrated development of agriculture, industry, and sideline activities.
However, while developing the commune-owned economy, it was also essential to ensure strong performance in production across all brigades and specialized teams. [2] Tian Jiaying served as Mao Zedong’s secretary at the time. [3] Refers to the “Resolution on the Establishment of People’s Communes in the Countryside,” adopted at the Expanded Meeting of the CPC Central Political Bureau held in Beidaihe from August 17 to 30, 1958, and the “Resolution on Several Questions Concerning People’s Communes,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eighth CPC Central Committee held in Wuchang from November 28 to December 10, 1958. [ ] The material titled “A Small Number of Communes and Production Teams in the Three Northeastern Provinces Have Already Transitioned to Full Public Ownership or Basic Commune Ownership” mentioned: “Commune economies in the three northeastern provinces are all developing very rapidly,” and “It is estimated that in most communes, commune-owned economies will gain the upper hand within two to three years.”
Mao Zedong wrote these comments alongside this passage.