893.00B/12–2249: Telegram
The Consul General at Peiping (Clubb) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23—5:09 a. m.]
2334. Translation requested Deptel 883, December 7 sent mytel 2322, December 21.36 Comment on phrase “Agri-socialism entirely wrong even reactionary[“] follows:
Term agri-socialism first appeared in speech by Mao at Shansi–Suiyuan cadre conference in spring 1948, detailed interpretation of [made?] public by NCNA in August same year. Agri-socialism was at time interpreted as signifying equal apportionment of real property among peasants on basis of private ownership with implication of permanent preservation these conditions of equality. Revised concept however now recognizes that maintenance such conditions is impracticable [Page 643] owing different natural environment (soil and climate), discrepancies individual capabilities and attitudes, unforeseeable effects, natural calamities, etc. New class differentiation follows and reform is therefore deemed inevitable and must ever be approved and encouraged in order to provide peasants with productive stimulus. That is, say, free competition among peasants and consequent appearance new rich peasants or capitalistic farmers must be emphasized as means of raising national productivity. This will constitute first stage in agri-socialization process with concomitant and significant difference as compared with pure capitalism of necessity for existence effective central government control and direction. Former totalitarian concept of agri-socialism hence is now regarded as fanciful and even reactionary, and criticism of land reform on basis that at its completion unequal conditions of land ownership continue to exist as similarly ill-informed.
Department pass Shanghai 1343.
- Neither printed; the Department requested, clarification of Chinese Communist Party statement that “agricultural socialism is entirely wrong” (893.00B/11–2149).↩