Comments on the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee’s Report on Defense Industry and Third-Position War Preparedness〔1〕 (October 22 and 27, 1964)  To Comrades Liu, Zhou, Deng, Peng, and Ruiqing〔2〕:  The province of Guangdong has now begun to take action.
Please ask the Premier to have a discussion with Ruiqing, or for Zhou, Luo, together with Deng and Peng, to hold talks.
Could this report be forwarded to the provinces in the First and Second Positions, so that they too may discuss their own Third-Position issues and submit to the Central Committee a report tailored to their specific circumstances?
All it would entail is an additional allocation of construction funds—approximately 1.5 billion yuan nationwide—which could be disbursed over two or three years.
This would resolve a major, long-term strategic problem.
If we do not act now, we shall regret it beyond remedy.
Return to Mao after reading.
Mao Zedong, October 22  Read by Liu, Zhou, Deng, and Peng; return to Comrade Lin Biao〔3〕.

It is sufficient to read only his〔4〕 text message to me.
Indeed, as the novels say, “Heroes generally see things much alike.”
Mao Zedong, October 27  Printed from the manuscript.
Notes  〔1〕 Section (1) was written on the request report submitted on October 18, 1964, by the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee to the Central Southern Bureau and the Central Committee concerning the defense industry and third-position war preparedness.
The report stated that U.S. imperialism is currently actively preparing to escalate its aggressive war against North Vietnam, making it imperative for Guangdong Province to intensify its war preparations.
After deliberation, the Provincial Committee proposed: (1) accelerating the development of local military-industrial enterprises; (2) relocating certain civilian industries from forward cities such as Guangzhou to the Third Position, while simultaneously expanding power-generation capacity in the rear areas; (3) strengthening the construction of defense highways and communication networks; (4) improving material reserves and warehouse facilities; (5) speeding up agricultural development and economic growth in the mountainous regions of the rear areas; and (6) appropriately enhancing cultural, educational, and health services in the Third Position.
Section (2) was written beside Lin Biao’s text message dated October 26, sent to Mao Zedong for forwarding this report.
In his letter, Lin suggested circulating the report to all provinces across the country, so as to further implement war-preparedness efforts at the provincial level.  〔2〕 Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi.
Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.
Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at that time served as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Peng refers to Peng Zhen, then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.
Ruiqing denotes Luo Ruiqing, who at the time was Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary-General of the Central Military Commission, and Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army.  〔3〕 Lin Biao was then Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defense.  〔4〕 Refers to Lin Biao.