Commentary on Key Points of Tao Zhu’s¹ Speech in the Central-South Group²
(August 13, 1962)

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Complete Works of Mao Zedong Volume 45
Read. Very good.
Mao Zedong
August 13
August 1962, Mao Zedong with Li Min, Kong Linghua, Li Na and others in Beidaihe.
182

--- Notes

¹ Tao Zhu was then First Secretary of the Central-South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
² This commentary was written on the Central Work Conference briefing issued by the Confidential Room of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on August 12, 1962. The briefing published the key points of Tao Zhu’s speech in the Central-South Group on August 10. Tao Zhu said: I believe that Chairman Mao’s raising of several major questions of principle at the very beginning of this conference is of extremely great significance. Below I offer some personal understandings:
(1) The question of class and class struggle. Acknowledging this question is, for us Communists, a matter of course. If one does not acknowledge it, how can one be called a Communist? Yet in understanding many concrete issues, a small number of comrades do indeed exhibit a failure to acknowledge class and class struggle. Particularly when difficulties are encountered, there are some people who do not want to engage in class struggle and attempt to find another “way out.” The struggle between the socialist and capitalist roads must be affirmed as protracted. The struggle between the two roads in the countryside will exist as long as the well-to-do middle peasants exist as a stratum, and it will inevitably be reflected inside the Party. In the Central-South region, although those who have already divided up households and gone it alone are not numerous, there are still plenty of people trumpeting going it alone or thinking of going it alone; this must absolutely not be underestimated. For those who have already divided up households and gone it alone, we must first make the Party’s firm attitude clear, and educate the broad cadres and peasants to steadfastly take the socialist road. In concrete work, cautious steps must be taken; we must not be simplistic or crude. Regarding the forms of agricultural production, operation and management, there are indeed still many problems which we must take seriously and resolve. This is a very important move for consolidating the collective economy. (2) The question of the situation. Internationally, the situation is excellent. The improvement in the domestic situation greatly influences the international situation. Therefore, we must first do our domestic work well. The central link in doing our domestic work well is the restoration and development of agriculture. Once agriculture is restored, industry can subsequently be gradually restored and developed as well. (3) Understanding several contradictory questions. Tao Zhu focused on offering his views on the contradiction between socialism and capitalism, the contradiction between accumulation and consumption, the contradiction between centralization and decentralization, and the contradiction between correctness and error.