Comments on a Conference Report
(April 7, 1960)

Party Committees of All Provinces, Municipalities, and Autonomous Regions:

The Jiangsu six-level cadre conference has been conducted very well. Their report is now forwarded to you for reference.

The Central Committee
April 7, 1960

For immediate delivery to Liu, Deng, and Peng Zhen[1] for review. Request Shangkun[2] to dispatch by telegram.

Mao

[1]
[2]
---

The report from the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to the Central Committee, Mao Zedong, and the Shanghai Bureau, dated March 30, 1960, states:

Our province's six-level Party cadre conference began on March 19. The first two days were devoted to discussing the current situation. From the 22nd to the 28th, discussions focused on the issue of the transition of ownership in the people's communes and the development of commune-owned economy. The process of discussion was one in which contradictions gradually unfolded and were resolved. Although methods of "gentle breeze and mild rain" and heart-to-heart exchanges between higher and lower levels were adopted, in reality, intense debates still existed. The focal points of the debate first centered on two issues: "whether transition is necessary" and "the conditions for transition." Through repeated discussions, and especially by recalling the history of development from mutual aid teams to elementary cooperatives, advanced cooperatives, and people's communes, it was recognized that the continuous transformation of production relations promotes the uninterrupted development of productive forces, and the development of productive forces in turn demands that production relations correspond to them. The timing of transition, sooner or later, does not depend on people's subjective wishes, but is determined by conditions such as the growth of grain production and commodity production, the degree of mechanization, electrification, and irrigation in rural areas, the development of the commune-owned economy, and the level of the masses' consciousness. Therefore, at the present stage, it is necessary to uphold the three-level ownership system based on the brigade, actively lead and assist the brigades in developing production, and actively and gradually develop the commune-owned economy, so as to create conditions for the transition to basic commune ownership. Upholding the three-level ownership system now is precisely for the purpose of eliminating the three-level ownership system in the future. There were also debates on how to develop the commune-owned economy. One concerned the methods for developing the commune-owned economy. In the preceding period, the phenomena of "equalitarianism and indiscriminate transfer of resources" had generally begun to surface, and in some places were quite serious. Through discussion, everyone realized that using the method of "equalitarianism and indiscriminate transfer of resources" to develop the commune-owned economy is unworkable; it directly affects the development of brigade production, dampens the masses' enthusiasm for production, impairs unity between commune and brigade cadres, and fosters extravagance and waste. Therefore, the "communist wind" must not be stirred up, but the communist style must be greatly promoted. The second concerned the policy for developing the commune-owned economy. Some commune and brigade cadres one-sidedly pursued output value and single-mindedly sought to make money, neglecting the policy of taking grain as the key link, and were unwilling to undertake long-term farmland capital construction. By presenting facts and reasoning, the conference repeatedly clarified the principle of "taking grain as the key link and ensuring the all-round development of forestry, animal husbandry, sideline production, fisheries, commune-run industries," enabling everyone to realize that if grain production does not pass the test, life will be difficult. To pass the grain test, it is necessary to vigorously implement the Eight-Point Charter with water, soil, and fertilizer taking the lead, and vigorously promote agricultural technical innovation and technological revolution, so as to ensure high and stable agricultural yields. The third concerned whether the focus of current leadership should be on grasping the brigade-owned economy or the commune-owned economy. Through discussion and analysis, everyone held that at present, the commune-owned economy in the whole province accounts for only about 10% of the total income, while the brigade economy accounts for over 70%. Therefore, the development of the commune-owned economy must be built on the foundation of developing the brigade-owned economy. When the brigade economy develops, it can better promote the development of the commune-owned economy in terms of raw materials, funds, labor power, and other aspects. When the commune-owned economy develops, it can in turn support the development of the brigade economy.

--- Notes

Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, then General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Peng Zhen, then Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Secretariat.


Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, then Alternate Secretary of the Central Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee.