Critique on the Main Points of Tao Zhu's [1] Speech in the Central-South Group [2]
(August 13, 1962)

Read. Very good.
Mao Zedong
August 13
August 1962, Mao Zedong with Li Min, Kong Linghua, Li Ne, and others at Beidaihe.

--- Notes

[1] Tao Zhu, then First Secretary of the Central-South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
[2] This critique is written on the Central Work Conference bulletin printed and distributed by the Confidential Office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on August 12, 1962. This bulletin published the main 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 principled questions at the very beginning of this conference is of extremely great significance. Below are some personal understandings:
(1) The question of class and class struggle. Acknowledging this question is, for us Communists, a matter of perfectly justified and unalterable principle. If one does not acknowledge it, how can one be called a Communist? Yet, in understanding many specific issues, a minority of comrades do indeed exhibit a failure to acknowledge class and class struggle, especially when encountering difficulties, whereupon some people do not wish to engage in class struggle and attempt to seek 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 rich middle peasants exist as a stratum, and it will inevitably be reflected within the Party. In the Central-South region, although those who have already divided households for individual farming are not many, those who advocate individual farming or wish to engage in it still exist in large numbers, and this must absolutely not be underestimated. For those who have already divided households for individual farming, we must first make clear the Party's firm stance, and educate the broad cadres and peasants to firmly take the socialist road. In concrete work, cautious steps must be taken; we cannot be simple and crude. Regarding the forms of agricultural production, operation, and management, many problems indeed still exist, which we must take seriously and resolve; this is a very important measure for consolidating the collective economy. (2) The question of the situation. Internationally, the situation is excellent. The improvement of the domestic situation greatly influences the international situation; therefore, we must first do our domestic work well. The central link in doing domestic work well is the restoration and development of agriculture. Once agriculture is restored, industry can subsequently be gradually restored and developed. (3) Understanding of several contradictory issues. Tao Zhu focused on discussing 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.