K. This is the 1st working draft of vol. VI. It still ... - From Marx to Mao

104 MAO TSE-TUNG
ECONOMIC POLICY OF THE SOVIETS
Confronted with an impoverished people, the KMT, however,
spread lies against the Soviets, saying that the Soviet Government
is bankrupt. The KMT is bent on the destruction of the Soviets not
only by guns and cannon but by economic measures, the most ruthless
of which is the “blockade”. With the broad masses and the Red
Army behind it, the Soviets have been able to smash the KMT drives,
one after another. And it has, also, succeeded to a certain extent in
economic reconstruction within its territory, a step which has been
taken to break the blockade of the enemy.
Engaged in a battle against imperialism and KMT, at the same
FROM MARX
TO MAO
time located in an economically backward region encircled by the
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economic blockade of the enemy, the Soviets must proceed, whenever
possible, with the economic reconstruction, concentrate its
forces on war supplies, improve the life of the masses, consolidate
the alliance between the workers and the peasants in the economic
field, assure the leadership of the proletariat over the peasantry, and
create the premises for the development of socialist construction in
the future.
The central tasks involved in economic reconstruction of the
Soviets are development of agricultural production, of industrial
production, of foreign NOT trade, and of FOR co-operatives.
Agriculture in Soviet districts is apparently forging ahead at a
big pace. Agricultural products in 1933 have increased 15 per cent
on the average as COMMERCIAL
against 1932. The rise in Mien-che-kang is 20 per
cent. In the couple of years following the Soviet revolution, agricultural
production showed a downward trend, but thanks to the certainty
in the division of land, the promotion of the Soviets and the
growth of enthusiasm DISTRIBUTION
among the masses, production has been moving
upwards steadily. In some cases production has been restored
to its original level, but in others it has exceeded the original level.
Fallow land has been cultivated again, while new land has been reclaimed.
Large masses of women have joined the shock-work in agricultural
production. These are facts never witnessed under the
KMT’s rule. Satisfied with the land obtained, encouraged by the
Soviets, the peasants have shown a great enthusiasm in working up
the land allotted to them. Under present conditions, agricultural
production shall be the first task in the economic reconstruction of
the Soviets. It shall solve the food problem, as well as secure raw