Comments on the Meeting to Criticize Chen [1] and Report on the Rectification Movement
[2]
(April 1971)

Approved for distribution. (The time is tentatively set at seven days, but it may be extended
in practice.)
Agreed. The meeting time (originally scheduled for seven days) is insufficient and should be
extended.
Agreed.
20:00 on the 19th
This is good. If it is not enough, extend the time.

[1] Chen refers to Chen Boda.
[2] This first part was written on the draft notice of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) on April 4, 1971, submitted by Zhou Enlai for review, regarding the
convening of a meeting to report on the campaign to criticize Chen Boda and rectify his style
of work. The draft outlined the progress of the campaign to criticize Chen Boda and rectify
his style of work in various regions, military units, and central government agencies since the
Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee. It proposed that, in order to
summarize and exchange experiences, facilitate the in-depth and forward-looking
development of the campaign, and further understand the nature of Chen Boda's
reactionary crimes, "the Central Committee has decided to convene a nationwide meeting to
report on the campaign to criticize Chen Boda and rectify his style of work starting on April
15th," with the duration tentatively set at five days. During Mao's review, the "five days" was
changed to "seven days." The meeting began on April 15, 1971, and concluded on April 29th.
This second part was written on Zhou Enlai's report to Mao Zedong on the evening of April
18, 1971. The report stated that at the "Criticize Chen and Rectify Work Style Report
Conference," in addition to expressing their views, most of the group meetings related their
own mistakes of being deceived and deceived at the Lushan Conference. "As long as these
speeches serve the purpose of 'learning from past mistakes to avoid ones in the future,



curing the illness and saving the patient,' they will all be published in the bulletin, achieving
unity through criticism and self-criticism. If there are any ulterior motives, they will be
exposed; if there are errors of recognition, education should still be provided. Please
comment on whether this approach is appropriate, Chairman." Parts 3 and 4 of this report
were written in Zhou Enlai's report to Mao Zedong on April 19, 1971. The report stated: "The
second draft of the crimes of the anti-Party element Chen Boda has been revised several
times. It is now being printed and sent to the Politburo comrades for review." "I am
submitting a copy to the Chairman and Vice Chairman Lin for your personal review. Please
read it and see if it is acceptable. It will be printed and distributed to the meeting on the
evening of the 20th for future use." (Next to this sentence in quotation marks, Mao Zedong
wrote a comment, which is Part 3 of this report.) "For the next two days (the 19th and 20th),
we will continue to focus on exposing and discussing the Lushan Conference and the issues
surrounding it, in order to deepen our understanding and reflection, and to promote unity.
Please approve whether it is appropriate." Next to this paragraph, Mao Zedong wrote a
comment, which is Part 4 of this report.