Comments on Qinghai Province’s Request for Instructions Regarding the Resumption of Party Organizational Life and Revisions to the Draft Reply from the Central Committee
(1)
(October 24 and 27, 1967)

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To All Comrades of the Central Cultural Revolution Group:
This document should be discussed and replied to; at the same time, it is to be forwarded to all localities for implementation.
Mao Zedong
October 24
Printed from the manuscript.

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This is how it should be done.

Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

Lin Biao, Enlai [2], and all comrades of the Central Cultural Revolution Group:
The telegram has been revised. Please convene another meeting. If it can be approved, it may be sent out.
Mao Zedong
October 27
Printed from the manuscript.

To the Core Group of the CPC in Qinghai Province, with copy to the Revolutionary Committees (Preparatory Groups) and Military Control Committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, as well as to the major military regions and provincial military districts:
The Core Group of the CPC in Qinghai Province, in its telegram dated October 19, sought instructions on whether organizational life of the Party could be resumed in units where revolutionary committees had already been established. The Central Committee believes that this practice should be adopted throughout the country. However, within Party organizations, those who have been conclusively identified as traitors, secret agents, or individuals who behaved extremely badly during the Cultural Revolution and refuse to repent must not be allowed to participate in organizational activities. Party organizations should consist of advanced elements of the proletariat and serve as vigorous vanguard bodies capable of leading the class and the masses in their struggle against class enemies.

The Central Committee of the CPC
The Central Cultural Revolution Group
October 27, 1967

Notes
Printed according to documents of the Central Committee of the CPC. (Includes Mao Zedong’s revisions.)

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[1] This piece was written on a telegram dated October 19, 1967, sent by the Core Group of the CPC in Qinghai Province to the Central Committee and the Central Cultural Revolution Group. The telegram stated: “Revolutionary committees have been successively established in grassroots units throughout our province, but Party organizations have yet to be restored. In our work, we frequently encounter issues that require handling by Party organizations—for example, some Party members and Youth League members who were previously subject to organizational disciplinary measures are now requesting reconsideration of their cases; many members of the rebel factions are seeking admission into the Party or the Youth League. In order to strengthen Party leadership, may organizational life of the Party be resumed in units where revolutionary committees have already been established?” Upon reviewing the telegram, Mao Zedong underlined the phrase “may organizational life of the Party be resumed” and wrote a comment below it, which constitutes this second entry. The third entry was written on a report dated October 27, 1967, submitted by Zhou Enlai, Chen Boda (then a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Cultural Revolution Group), Kang Sheng (then a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and advisor to the Central Cultural Revolution Group), and Jiang Qing (then deputy head of the Central Cultural Revolution Group) to Mao Zedong, with copy to Lin Biao. The report, drafted by Chen Boda, read: “The Chairman has instructed that the Group discuss the Qinghai Core Group’s proposal regarding the resumption of Party organizational life. The Group held a meeting on the 26th, but failed to fully grasp the Chairman’s instructions. Instead of formulating a clear communiqué directly in line with the Chairman’s thinking, they indulged in unnecessary complications and bureaucratic red tape, making a telephone call to Qinghai without first seeking the Chairman’s approval and acting entirely on their own initiative. We take full responsibility for this mistake. Similar errors have occurred several times before. We respectfully request that the Chairman issue a stern criticism or impose disciplinary action.” “Attached is the original text of the telephone conversation. This call has already been canceled as per the Chairman’s instructions.” The telephone call was made at 3:00 p.m. on October 26 by Zhang Chunqiao, deputy head of the Central Cultural Revolution Group, to Liu Xianquan, head of the Core Group of the CPC in Qinghai Province. In the call, Zhang Chunqiao said: “The Central Committee believes that in units where revolutionary committees have already been established, Party organizational life may indeed be resumed, as you have suggested. However, this is a major matter involving numerous questions: How exactly should ‘resumption’ be carried out? Should all existing Party members participate in organizational activities? Should the Party organizations of the leading bodies be rectified first, followed by those at lower levels, or should these processes proceed simultaneously? What should be the relationship between the primary Party branches and the revolutionary committees? Equally important is the question of how to admit new members and inject fresh blood into the ranks, and so forth. Please hold discussions and, based on the various views expressed, prepare a concise report to be submitted to the Central Committee. Furthermore, either you or a designated comrade should come to Beijing to join us in deliberations; only after the Central Committee has made a decision will we formally respond to your inquiry.” The fourth entry represents revisions to the draft reply from the Central Committee and the Central Cultural Revolution Group, which Chen Boda submitted for review on October 27. The portions printed in Song typeface indicate text added or revised by Mao Zedong. On that day, the Central Committee and the Central Cultural Revolution Group issued this telegram.
[2] Lin Biao continued to be elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau at the Eleventh Plenary Session of the Eighth CPC Central Committee and was soon thereafter appointed Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee. Enlai refers to Zhou Enlai.