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

CONCLUSIONS ON THE LAND INVESTIGATION CAMPAIGN
“The aim of the land investigation is to examine classes and
not to redistribute the land,” . . . [an] “alliance with the middle
peasantry should start with non-encroachment on the interests
of the middle peasants,” . . . “[I]n the beginning of the land investigation
we should make widespread propaganda to the effect
that the Soviet policy is to ally with the middle peasantry,
not to encroach upon them. In the process of land investigation
we should carefully determine the uncertain elements between
the middle peasants and the rich peasants as not to misplace
them.”
FROM MARX
TO MAO
But these directives were not heeded by comrades in many places.
The land investigation in the confines of Juichin, once under way,
⋆
has proceeded to examine the middle peasants, house by house and
mou by mou so much so that it drove them to panic. In the end they
rushed to the Soviet to ask for reclassification of their status into
poor peasants. They argued that: “To be a middle peasant is very
dangerous, for one would become a rich peasant if stretched. Change
to a poor peasant, for it is a bit far way from becoming a rich peasant.”
Does not such a despairing voice merit our attention? Comrades
in Yangku hsiang of Huangpo District have told the masses:
“Class examination is not for examining others, but only to examine
the middle and rich NOT peasant and FOR landlord classes.” Comrades in
Taching District have investigated so exhaustively by putting up
markings, that it has caused the same panic among the middle peasants.
In the Conclusion COMMERCIAL
of the Eight-County Conference it was already
stated that “such an idea as to assume that the land investigation
is one of putting up markings is not correct”. However, these
comrades did not pay heed to it at all. This method of such an exhaustive
investigation DISTRIBUTION
by markings has appeared in every county.
This is an extraordinarily serious situation. They have mixed up
the land investigation for the land distribution. But if this method
is to be employed in the land investigations campaign it would confound
the objective of the struggle in the villages. In the past we
pointed out that:
“Land investigation and land distribution must be strictly distinguished.
Such a distinction is to be made not only for consolidating
the land ownership of peasants so as not to cause panic
out of the ill-defined land distribution, but also for victory in
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