Commentary by the CPC Central Committee on the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee’s Report on Implementing the Central Emergency Instruction Letter (November 28, 1960)  I. To all Central Bureaus and to the party committees of provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions:  One copy of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee’s report dated November 20, 1960 [1] is being forwarded for your reference. The Central Committee considers that this report accurately reflects the actual situation in Zhejiang and holds reference value for other localities.  The Central Committee November £±, 1960  II. After Zhou, Fu Chun, Zhen Lin, and Bo Da [2] had reviewed it, they transmitted it by telegram. Tibet will not receive it. Apart from the Central Committee’s commentary, the original document will also not be sent to Zhejiang. The original will be returned to Mao after use. Printed according to Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

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Notes [1] The main contents of the report submitted by the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee to the Central Committee and the East China Bureau concerning the implementation of the Central Committee’s emergency instruction letter on current policies of rural people’s communes are as follows:  (1) In late September and early October, based on the Central Committee’s directive to vigorously develop agriculture and grain production, the provincial committee discussed work for this winter and next spring, taking the implementation of the Party’s policies as its central theme and launching a rectification campaign within the communes. Following the meeting, the majority of leading cadres went down to the grassroots level to carry out pilot projects for commune rectification. On November 4, upon receipt of the Central Committee’s emergency instruction letter on current policies of rural people’s communes, the letter was immediately conveyed downward; it was widely communicated to the masses and met with their enthusiastic support, greatly boosting current production. However, among some cadres and the general public, concerns remained—such as fear of change. At present, we are gradually deepening the movement, earnestly addressing ideological issues, various policy questions, and problems related to work style and methods.  (2) On November 14, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee convened to discuss the Central Committee’s instructions, linking them to the actual situation and conducting a self-examination. Through this process, they came to a profound understanding of the grave dangers posed by the “Five Winds.” The root cause of their repeated recurrence lies in our insufficient comprehension and resolute implementation of two fundamental principles: building the national economy on an agricultural foundation, and establishing a three-tier ownership system at the production team level in the current stage of people’s communes. During the discussion, participants pointed out: First, in the past we had inadequate recognition of the necessity of upholding the three-tier ownership system of the communes, with production teams as the basic unit. When serious problems arose in the countryside, we failed to focus on examining them from the perspectives of the ownership structure and relevant policies, instead simplistically viewing them as a struggle between two different paths. It was only through this discussion that we realized that this system constitutes the fundamental institutional framework of the people’s communes at the present stage—an irreversible historical phase. Any violation of this objective law would inevitably incur punishment. Only by thoroughly resolving this ideological issue and firmly stabilizing the ownership structure, without introducing new gimmicks or makeshift measures, can we effectively mobilize the enthusiasm of the masses and promote the development of agricultural production. Second, we have also previously underestimated the critical importance of solving the problem of agricultural labor force in advancing agricultural production. Due to our overly optimistic estimates of agricultural yields, we inadvertently weakened agriculture as the foundation of the economy in practical work. On the one hand, in allocating labor and formulating plans, we neglected to ensure adequate staffing for frontline agricultural production; on the other hand, we did not acknowledge the principles of equivalent exchange and the law of value, nor did we adhere to the principle of distribution according to work. Third, although we have repeatedly criticized the “Five Winds” among cadres, we have never tackled the root causes of the problem.


From a leadership perspective, there are two primary shortcomings: first, our understanding of the policies pertaining to the three-tier ownership system based on production teams remains unclear, and our ideological education of cadres in this regard has been inadequate; second, the task requirements have been excessively rigid, inflexible, and rushed, lacking a realistic and pragmatic approach, which has led some cadres to hesitate to speak truthfully, thereby fostering tendencies toward falsification, exaggeration, and coercive commandism. To resolve these problems, it is essential that we conduct a thorough review and make corresponding corrections from top to bottom, with the concerted efforts of all.  (3) Future work arrangements:  1. The provincial committee has decided to convene, in November and December, first an expanded meeting of the provincial committee and then five-level cadre meetings at the county level, with a particular emphasis on clarifying our understanding of the Central Committee’s instructions. We will carefully summarize experiences, fully expose existing problems, engage in criticism and self-criticism, demarcate clear ideological and policy boundaries, commend good cadres, and take disciplinary action against a small number of seriously lawless and undisciplined elements.  2. From now until the end of February next year, we will carry out the rectification campaign within the communes in stages and batches throughout the province.  3. We will strengthen ideological and political leadership, rectify the Party’s primary-level organizations, and promptly and sternly deal with a very small number of undesirable elements. Issues of ideology and work style will be addressed in the later stages of the campaign, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Central Committee’s instructions.  [2] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Fu Chun refers to Li Fuchun, and Zhen Lin refers to Tan Zhenlin, both of whom at that time served as members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, secretaries of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and vice premiers of the State Council. Bo Da refers to Chen Boda, who at that time was an alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, director of the Central Research Office, and deputy head of the Central Rural Work Leading Group.