To All Central Bureaus, Provincial, Municipal, and Autonomous Region Party Committees:  We are forwarding one report from Comrade Wang Renzhong of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee, one summary from Mianyang County, Hubei Province, and one report on the new situation in Tonghaikou Commune, Mianyang County, following the correction of errors.〔1〕 These materials are provided for your reference.


It is imperative that within a few months we make a firm decision to thoroughly rectify the gravely wrong tendencies of “communism,” exaggeration, commandism, special privileges among cadres, and arbitrary interference in production, with particular emphasis on correcting “communism” as the key to addressing the other four unhealthy practices.


A sound approach is for each provincial party committee to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation of a single commune—especially one where the mistakes have been particularly severe—in order to gain a clear understanding of the actual conditions.


Another effective method is to carry out pilot projects first and then gradually extend the reforms in stages.


It is highly dangerous when a provincial party committee lacks a clear grasp of the situation.


Once the facts are known, matters can be handled much more easily.


We must adhere to the mass line, fully mobilize the masses to rise up and correct the five unhealthy tendencies among cadres themselves, and oppose any paternalistic or condescending attitudes.


The crucial issue is that all three levels—prefecture, county, and commune—must resolve to take decisive action (a resolute commitment to see it through to the end). First and foremost, however, it is the provincial level that must make this firm determination. The time has come to resolve to correct these errors.


Provided that the situation is clearly understood, the resolve is strong, and the methods are appropriate, in accordance with the Central Committee’s Twelve Instructions,〔2〕 if cadres truly master the policy—that is, the Twelve Instructions—and then convey it to the masses, the situation can be turned around within a few months. The experience of Hubei serves as clear proof of this.


In early or mid-December, the Central Committee will convene a meeting to hear your reports. Please make preliminary arrangements for your work accordingly.


Printed by the Central Committee on November 15, 1960, based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

--- Notes

Notes 〔1〕 refer to a report dated November 12, 1960, from Wang Renzhong, First Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee, addressed to Tao Zhu, First Secretary of the Central-South Bureau, and to Mao Zedong, concerning the rectification of the “Five Winds,” together with two accompanying documents: the Mianyang County Party Committee’s report of November 3, 1960, titled “Summary of the First Phase of Policy Implementation in Mianyang County,” and a document written on November 9, 1960, by Ma Jie, First Secretary of the Mianyang County Party Committee, entitled “Changes in Tonghaikou Commune Following Policy Implementation.”  In his report, Wang Renzhong notes that a review of these two documents should prompt an earlier and firmer resolve to correct the “communist wind.”
After publicizing the experience of Tonghaikou Commune throughout the province, most counties have subsequently conducted pilot programs, and a few have already begun to implement the reforms more broadly.  To carry out the Central Committee’s Twelve Instructions, three-level cadre meetings have commenced across the province. These meetings have emphasized democratic discussion, encouraging frank and open exchanges in which participants boldly expose the problems and mistakes made over the past three years. This is followed by a comprehensive assessment aimed at clarifying the true state of affairs, drawing lessons, and achieving unity of thought and action so that everyone can work together to overcome the current difficulties.
〔2〕 Refers to the Central Committee’s urgent directive letter dated November 3, 1960, concerning current policy issues related to rural people’s communes. The directive consists of twelve points:  1. Ownership at three levels—with teams as the foundation—is the fundamental system of the people’s communes at this stage.  2. We must resolutely oppose and completely correct the erroneous practice of “equalization and central redistribution.”  3. We should strengthen the basic ownership rights of production teams.  4. We must uphold the small-scale ownership rights of production subteams.  5. Members should be allowed to cultivate small plots of private land and engage in minor household side businesses.  6. Deductions should be kept to a minimum while distribution should be maximized, striving to ensure that ninety percent of members see an increase in their income.  7. We should adhere to the principle of “each according to his ability, each according to his work,” with a 30/70 split between subsistence allowances and wages.  8. We need to conserve labor in all areas and reinforce the front lines of agricultural production.  9. Food supplies must be properly arranged, and communal canteens should be run effectively.  10. Rural markets should be restored in a well-organized and planned manner to stimulate the rural economy.  11. Work and rest must be balanced in earnest.  12. We should fully mobilize the masses to launch campaigns for rectifying both style and the communes themselves.