Comments and Revisions on the Xinyang Prefectural Party Committee’s Report on Rectification Campaigns and Production-Relief Efforts, and on the Central Committee’s Draft Directive for Circulating That Report〔1〕 (December 31, 1960; January 1, 1961) I. To be distributed to all comrades〔2〕. This is an excellent document〔3〕; all Class III communes nationwide should implement it accordingly.
Mao Zedong, December 31, 1960.
Printed from the manuscript.
II.
Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Chen, Deng, Peng Zhen〔4〕—please review immediately; Shang Kun〔〕—issue for distribution.
Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

III.
In every commune and production team, it is imperative to simultaneously carry out rectification campaigns, production-relief work, and efforts to improve the people’s living standards.
These three tasks must be integrated and executed concurrently and effectively.
Printed according to Mao Zedong’s revised text.
Notes: 〔1〕 Part I consists of comments written by Mao Zedong on a report dated December 22, 1960, submitted by the Xinyang Prefectural Party Committee of the CPC to the Henan Provincial Party Committee and forwarded to the Central Committee and the Central-South Bureau, concerning the rectification campaign and production-relief work.
Mao proposed the title “An Important Document” for this report.
Part II comprises comments inscribed on a draft directive issued by the Central Committee on January 1, 1961, for circulating the Xinyang Prefectural Party Committee’s report.
Part III represents revisions made to a passage in the central directive, with the text typeset in Song typeface indicating words added or altered by Mao Zedong. 〔2〕 Refers to comrades then attending the CPC Central Committee Work Conference in Beijing. 〔〕 Refers to the report of the Xinyang Prefectural Party Committee of the CPC.
The report states that from December 8 to 14, meetings were held successively by the Standing Committee of the Prefectural Party Committee and by first secretaries of county and city party committees, at which they conveyed and studied directives from the Central Committee and Chairman Mao, reviewed previous work, and laid out plans for future rectification campaigns and production-relief efforts. (1) The rectification campaign has now been widely launched throughout our region, and a high tide of mass movements to complete the democratic revolution has emerged.
In conjunction with the rectification drive, the Central Committee’s urgent directive on twelve policies was extensively publicized and implemented; widespread production-relief work was undertaken, arrangements were made to provide for the people’s livelihoods, large quantities of relief supplies were distributed, various measures were taken to curb the spread of disease, diversified operations were promoted, a system of working half a day and resting half a day was put into effect, market trade was invigorated, and public morale stabilized in the vast majority of areas. (2) A thorough completion of the democratic revolution must be carried out in accordance with instructions from higher authorities.
This task is arduous, and the following key points should be grasped: First, correctly understand the nature of the Xinyang Incident, raise class consciousness, and clarify guiding principles.
Second, conduct the rectification campaign on a scale comparable to that of land reform.
This is both a completion of the democratic revolution and a continuation of the socialist revolution.
Third, revolutionary methods must be employed, adhering to the class line and the mass line, fully mobilizing the masses and seizing leadership.
Fourth, establish congresses of commune members, vest all power in these congresses, and give full play to their role.
Fifth, organizational handling constitutes an important link for implementing policy and consolidating the results of the struggle; the two-step approach of preliminary and final handling must be upheld, and the principle of being forceful, precise, and steady must be followed—neither allowing any wrongdoer to escape punishment nor unjustly condemning any innocent person.
Sixth, set up and strengthen a “command headquarters,” organizing a powerful rectification force.
Seventh, closely integrate the rectification campaign with production-relief work and arrangements for people’s daily lives. (3) Arrangements were made for several tasks that need to be addressed promptly. 〔〕 Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi.
Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.
Zhu refers to Zhu De.
Chen refers to Chen Yun, who at the time served as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council.
Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at the time was General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council.
Peng Zhen was then a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and a secretary of the Secretariat. 〔〕 Shang Kun refers to Yang Shangkun, who at the time was a candidate member of the CPC Central Secretariat and Director of the Central Office.