They are Exploited Too
The poor peasants and farm labourers have
some differences with the middle peasants, but they
can be settled. The middle peasants in the old society
are in general exploited and oppressed. On such basic
question as opposing imperialism, striking down KMT
reactionary regime, wiping out the feudal system and
demanding political democracy, they have all the
conditions for common struggle together with the poor
peasants and farm labourers under the leadership of
the communist party. The difference between them
lies mainly with the dissatisfaction of the poor peasants
and farm labourers over the insufficient firmness
displayed by middle peasants in struggling against
the landlords and rich peasants, sometimes vacillating
and hesitating.
This kind of weakness on the part of the middle
peasants really exists, but only [if] the leadership
principles instructed by Chairman Mao Tse-tung are
carried out, namely resolutely leading the middle
peasants to struggle against the feudal classes and
to win, and at the same time not injuring their interests
and giving them political education, they can be led
in concerted struggle. Secondly, in the equal
distribution of land, well-to-do middle peasants may
be unwilling to hand out part of their land. The equal
distribution of land is the most thorough and best
method of wiping out the feudal system. In the equal
distribution of land, the overwhelming majority of the
middle peasants neither has handed out land nor has
distributed the land to them. Only a small number of
well-to-do middle peasants may give out a little and
(their other possessions cannot be touched at all)
while lower middle peasants may be distributed some
land. The middle peasants under the new regime
obtain many political, economic and cultural benefits,
and therefore the middle peasants in general are in
favour of the equal distribution of land. But in the
carrying out of the equal distribution of land, it is
necessary to talk things over with the middle peasants
and obtain their agreement. If when a portion of the
land of well-to-do middle peasants is drawn on, the
well-to-do middle peasants themselves express
opposition, concession should be made to them and
their land should not be touched, In the distribution of
the fruits of agrarian reform, it should be explained to
the poor peasants and farm labourers that a portion
of the fruits should be distributed to the middle
peasants for the sake of unity. To sum up, attention
must be given to uniting all the middle peasants on all
kinds of question, it should be understood that the
uniting of 90 per cent of the rural population is the
basic condition for our wiping out of feudalism and
winning the war. No matter what, the “area of attack”
should be confined within the sphere of the true feudal
exploiting classes and should absolutely not be
8
permitted to overstep this sphere. In the places
originally ruled by the Kuomintang to which the
people’s Liberation Army arrives, the “area of attack”
must be narrowed down even more. In such places,
at first only the big landlords, big evil gentry, tyrants,
landlords’ armed forces, the “pao chia” system and
special service agents should be struck at. Then in
accordance with conditions of military success and
the consolidation of base areas and the level of
consciousness and organization of the masses,
gradually proceed to the wiping out of the entire feudal
system.
How to Unite
To unite all the middle peasants, we should, first
of all, see to it that their interests are not infringed on
and their class standing is determined correctly. Those
who have already been determined incorrectly must
be re-determined. It must be explained to them that,
in the past, mistakes were made because the analysis
of classes had not yet been learned. Those whose
things have already been confiscated should as far
as possible receive them back. If those things have
already been distributed and used, they should be
compensated for by drawing on a portion of the fruits
of confiscation from the landlords. If those things
include surplus grain of the middle peasants which
the poor peasants and farm labourers urgently need,
such grain may be borrowed. If middle peasants
contribute some grain on their own volition for calamity
relief, that, of course, is very good.
Secondly, the middle peasants must certainly be
absorbed in the managing of affairs. Middle peasants
must be among the delegates to peasant congresses
and members of peasant union committees, so that
the middle peasants really enjoy political rights. In
places where the poor peasants and farm labourers
are in the majority, the middle peasants may occupy
approximately one-third of the peasants’ congress and
the peasant union committee, with the poor peasants
and farm labourers occupying approximately two-
thirds. In old liberated areas where the middle
peasants are in the overwhelming majority (among
labourers), the percentage occupied them being many
middle peasants who have risen from the poor
peasants and farm by the middle peasants should be
raised. The poor peasants and farm labourers may
occupy approximately one-third, and the middle
peasants occupy two-thirds. Each level of government
organization should have the participation of middle
peasants. On all questions, such as determining class
standing, apportioning the distribution of burden,
distributing land and property etc., the poor peasants’
leagues (or groups), may discuss them first, but they
must be finally passed by the peasants’ unions,
comprising all the peasants, before they may be
Class Struggle