Annotations on Li Desheng’s Report
(April 24, 1971)

That is fine. Since this concerns the overall situation, it should be handled with impartiality; one ought not to shy away from potential conflicts of interest. It has always been my view that when there are estrangements or problems among comrades, we should engage in patient discussion and more heart-to-heart talks, avoiding both haste and prolonged indecision. If work does not proceed smoothly, with the Central Committee’s assistance, it will eventually be resolved.
Mao Zedong
April 24th
Printed from the manuscript.

After Lin, Zhou, and Kang[2] have read it, return it to Comrade Li Desheng for safekeeping (it may also be passed on for review by Comrades Xu Shiyou and others).
Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.
Notes
[1] This note was written on a report submitted to Mao Zedong on April 23, 1971, by Li Desheng, Alternate Member of the CPC Central Political Bureau, Member of the Central Military Commission, and Director of the General Political Department of the People’s Liberation Army. The report stated: “In accordance with your instructions, on the morning of April 20, I conveyed to Comrade Xu Shiyou the Chairman’s directive requesting him to take charge of the Zhoushan issue in Zhejiang Province and the question of unity within the armed forces. He listened with great pleasure and expressed his firm determination to act in line with the Chairman’s instructions. At the same time, he explained that in the past he had refrained from addressing these two matters primarily to avoid suspicion—first, lest he be labeled a ‘black hand,’ and second, lest he be accused of seeking to seize major power in East China. Therefore, he had preferred not to intervene or speak much about such issues. He asked me to discuss the matter with comrades in Zhejiang, and I have already done so with Comrades Nan Ping and Xiong Yingtang, who said they had long harbored this very desire and immediately expressed their hope that Comrade Xu Shiyou would, as per the Chairman’s instruction, take up the task.” The second note was written on the envelope containing Li Desheng’s report. Xu Shiyou was at that time Commander of the Nanjing Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army and Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Revolutionary Committee. Nan Ping was then First Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, and Political Commissar of the Zhejiang Provincial Military Region of the PLA. Xiong Yingtang was then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Director of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, and Commander of the Zhejiang Provincial Military Region of the PLA.
[2] Lin refers to Lin Biao, who at the time served as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Kang refers to Kang Sheng, who at the time was a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Political Bureau and Head of the Central Organization and Propaganda Group.