JAO SOU-SHIH REPORTS ON EAST CHINA LAND REFORM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600350021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: October 2, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
~~~ettuc~ ~ {~~
4 CLASSIFICATIurI CoivFmErrrlAL
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Sociological; Economic - Land reform
HOW
PUBLISHED Daily newspaper
WHERE
PUBL"15HED shanghai
DATE
PUBLISHED 23 Jul 1950
LANGUAGE Chinese
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SOURCE Chieh~fang Jih-pao.
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1y5O
DATE DIST. ~..O~~l 1950
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT N0.
The following report on past and future land-reform activities in East
China was delivered by Jao Sou-ahih to the second plenary session of the East
China, Military and Administrative Committee, of which he is chairman:
The land-reform program has already been completed in most of Shantung
and in portions of northern Kiangsu and Anhwei. In other areas, the prelims
inary; steps of clearing oTat bandits, reducing rent, opposing evil landlord-
ism, equalization of tax burdens, and production for famine relief have been
carried out. In most of the areas agricultural associations with a total
membership of 11 million have been established. In accord with the decision
of the East China Military and Admia~strative Committee that the land-reform
program should be completed in East Chins in 2 years, there is activity every-
where to carry out the reform in most of the remaining areas during the latter
part of-1950. Revertheleas, there will still be areas with a combined popula-
tion of 20 million in Anhwei, Chekiang, and Fukien where the final completion
of the program will halt to be held over until the autumn of 1951.
B. ~estione for Practical Implementation of Land-Reform Program
Vice-chairman Diu, of the Central government, has said that we are now
confronted with entirely new conditions and we must 'carry out our program of
overthrowing feudalism and protecting the interests of the well-to-do peasants.
In carrying out land reform in the future, no disorderliness must be permitted.
The whole program moat be carried out entirely in harmony with that laid down
by the Central government. The poor peasants, the farm laborers, the middle-
class peasants and the neutral well-to-do peasants must ell be enlisted to over-
throw feudalism jointly and to increase agricultural production. In fact, every
step in-the land reform must be integrated with and intended to expand agricul-
tural production.
STATE
ARMY ~~
NAtlY
AIR
CLASSIFICATION
NSRB
FBI
?Dara{fiP'OZI
4~~f ~l~ta~ 11~~Y
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The situatior_ in the newly liberated areas of East China, particularly
in the area extending from Nanking to Hangchow is particularly complicated.
In this area, there are many landlords who concurrently carry on industrial
enterprises or who lease land to industrial enterprisers. There are many
workers, officiai.s, and independent industrialists who own and rent out small
parcels of land. Peasants with permanent rental rights are very numerous.
There arP many public fields and other public land areas. There is a large
amount of land operated by large-scale renters,
In much of the above area, there are the following additional complidating
ffictc~tap~ial agent activitico have not been~eliminated.y the landloFds..havie~
large degrcr~mf control, and the masges ha-?el not .yet been .we3.~?aroused. Our ca-
Hres are.neither numerous nor of_good guel~.ty:'Qoc~eration betweenfcadreaefrom
the outside and the Io~sl'~3opulation has. not"beefl:well:ecnfeved~:~:Old.;cad:res
lack fresh experience and new cadres have not been tried in the crucible of
class struggle. Hence, land reform in this area must be carried out with
the utmost caution and reason. Herewith are presented certain suggestions
for consideration is accordance with the land-reform law and the special
conditions prevailing in East China
1. According to the land law and supplementary directives, the land,
work animals, implements, surplus grain, and surplus buildings in the vil-
lages should be confiscated. The portion of land cultivated by the land-
lord himself and his residence should be left to the landlord after proper
adjustments have been made, The rest should be confiscated. Aside Prom
these, other property, including his industrial enterprises, should not be
confiscated. We must carry out these principles strictly. Only the land-
lord's surplus grain and buildings should be confiscated and the principle
should be followed of giving him hie allotment first before dividing up the
bala::~e. Many 1an31ords are furnishing buildings for the use of their ten-
ants, and they also have others that minister to their own pleasure. Where
they are suitable, the grain should. be divided among the cultivators in ac-
cordance with the law. Many of the buildings are not suited for the pr~~iuc-
tional use of cultivators sad their distribution would therefore contribute
little to this end, and might even result in damage to production. Such
property should be taken over by the authorities for management and used fo*
cultural and educational purpose advantageous to the villagers.
Aside from the amount of grain the landlord should return to the
renters in reduced rents and the amount needed for his own Pood until the
next harvest, all the rest of hie grain supplies may be taken over. IP
there should truly be ao surplus beyond the above-mentioned deductions, the
people should be persuaded to require no more of him.
The provision for ttot confiscating the landlord's industrial enter-
prises is designed to protect industrial production. Since his other assets
are usually closely ties in with his industries an attempt to separate them
could easily also disrupt production. Hence, he is also permitted to keep
these. While in some cases this policy will result in some assets not ac-
tually included iu hie industrial enterprises being retained by the land-
lord, which may be eald sot to be to the interest of the peasants, yet iP
h~ uses these assets to improve his industrial enterprises, it will be in
the interest of society in general.
2. Za the matter oP the rural real estate of industrial and commerce:
cial firms, the law provides Por their expropriation. This can be done with-
out direct dislocation *_~ industry and often to the real relief of peasants
in solving their land or housing problems. The distribu;;ioa of such prop-
erty will encourage the productive spirit of the peasaate and the apparent
loss to the industrial owners will be recompensed by the greater purchasing
power of the peasants benefited. Furthermore, the law provides that the
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COHFID~~~I~~
property of industrialists directly conr_ert?ed with their business, such as
private residences, warehouses, shops, and rural enternrisea contributing
to the welfare of agriculturists, must be protected.
3. In their speeches, Mae and Liu have explained the protection of the
property of the wealthy peasants. The matter is especially pertinent to the
area around Shanghai, 17anking, and Hankow.. Because of the density of the
population there and the direct effect of agricultural production ou the raw
material and food supplies of the cities, it ~is,especi~lly important te:-take
over none of the holdings of the wealthy farmers except the portion that
they rent out which is in excess of the amount equal to that they cultivate
by their own and hired labor. In special cases where authorities on a level
above the provincial Eovernment so decides a wealthy peasant?s extra holdings
may be teken over in part or in toto.
4. The rights of sArvicemen, their families, laborers, self-employed
persons, widows, orphans, and cripples, to retain the small holdings which
they rent out or, in come cases, cultivate themselves, should be very care-
fully observed. They should in no wise be considered as landlordp,~~a~.though
they may live off the income of land which they do not cultivate themselves.
Their protection in this matter will result in a very important sense of
solidarity between them sad the peasant class which is necessary to the wel-
fare of society. This class of landowners is unusually large in the East
China metropolitan area.
The number of overseas Chinese from East China is considerable.
They are cpprec-~;ed in the places where they live; hence, it i~:important-.that
they should be especially well treated in the matter of their holdings in
the fatherland,
According to data, public lands in East China comprise from 10 to
20 percent of the ?total area of cultivated land, In the lard-reform program,
these lands should be handled according to Article 3 of the law. In the head-
ling of lands of religious orders and ancestral clans, due regard must be paid
to the religious and filial feelings of those social units. When disposing
of the lands of religious orders, the various roni~, nuns, priests, and minis-'
ters of the orders who are able-bodied and who wish to take advantge of the
privilege should be given a portion of land and equipment on the same basis
as the peasants. The property of Moslem temples may be left in their pos-
session if the Moslem community agrees, In disposing of the property of
ancestral clans, attention should be paid to the desires of the peasants
among the clan members and special consideration should be given to t;iose
among them who are landless or he.ve very small holdings. Should there be
obstreperous landlords who attempt to create discontent among religious or
clan groups over land distribution, they should be delivered to the people's
courts for ,judgment.
6. Since the stabilization of the position of the middle-class peasants
is the crux of t..s land-reform program, their property rights should be most
carefully guarded. Any course of action detrimental to their interests is
wrong and dangerous.
7. Th., basic inner principle of the land-reform program is the distrib-
utio~l of the property of the landlords among the poor peasants; ther~flers,
the distribution of confiscated lands and other property should be made first
to them. However, the principle of protecting the econo~'~y of the well-to-do
peaar~nts and the small owners who rent out their small holdings may result in
some poor peasants not receiving as much as they should like. The authorities
should institute a program of education to help them to understand that in this
day of nation-wide victory the protection of the economy of the wealthy peasants
and the protection of the interests of the small landholders is necessary to the
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C+oNFIn~'~r{~~~
stability of the government and the expansion of production. They should be
educated to work harder, use more fertilizer, and carry out mutual aid to im-
prove their .livelihood. Furthermore, the authorities should make use of agri-
cultural loans and any other necessary and feasible plans to assist the poor
peasants in coping with difficulties after the land reform has been effected.
Farm laborers should share in the land distribution on the same basis
as the poor peasants,. When they choose to continue tc be laborers after the
distribution of the land the problems arising between them and their employers
should be handled on the principle of benefit for both capital and labor and
expansion of productior_ +,he name as for city laborers., We must be considerate
of their interests and {nter?sted in their livelihood and labor constantly for
their cultural and political a3vancement: They must also be patiently taught
to p:~vent them from falling under extxeme leftist influences. They should
not demand more for their services than the current economy will allow. If
they do, they will find no one to k:ire them, with resulting hardship for them
and deterioration of the production program in general.
8, In view of the complicated land.-ren?al situation in East China, the
confiscation and exprc ~riation of land must be carried out with the utmost
caution. The interests of the land-?owning peasants must be carefully guarded,
within the provisions of the law, to prevent or minimize loss to them. This
will be advantageous to the unification of the agricultural community and the
maintenance of production levels. The value of the land alloted to this class
should be considered carefully.
9. The determination of classes among :he agriculturists for purposes of
land reform is a very complicated, but extremely important matter. It can have
tremenduous influence upon the permanency of the results of the land-reform
program. The authorities on all levels must adhere strictly to the instruc-
tions of the Central goyernmer_t in this molter and the principles set forth in
Vice-chairman Liu?s report. When classifying the people of the rural areas,
first they must be carefully .'nstructed in the principles governing the ciassi-
fication, public discussion must be provided for, democratic decisions must be
made, s.nci then these decisions must be approved by higher authorities.
'~"
If the person involved, or any other person, wishes to question the
decision, he may petition the Hsieu People?s Court for consideration of the
matter. The decision of the court will be the basis for final action. Classi-
fication may begin wit:: the roust. easily distinguished classes that will em-
brace the majority of the people with little difficulty. The less easily dis-
tinguished classifications upon which there is likely to be dispute should be
left till later and the savice of higher authorities may be sosght before a
final se~tlement.
10. All steps in the land-reform program should be taken with a view to
the revival and expansion of agricultural production. All policies should be
viewed from this angle. All land-?reform activity should take into considera-
tion the seasonal interests of agriculture in order not to interfere with the
progress of agricultural operations. In areas of calamity, the first effort
should be toward getting over the period of calamity. Landlords should be
strictly prohibited Prom slaughtering work cattle; cutting trees; letting the
land lie waste; damaging farm implements, irrigation, and construction works,
or growing crops; as well as the commission of similar depredations. Viola-
tors should be dealt with by law, The result of land r?form should be produc-
tion. All corruption, waste, and destruction should be opposed. All materials
essential to production and livelihcod must be protected. In all areas where
land reform has been carried aut, the first objective should be to lead the
farmers Forward in production>
CONFf ~~~ ~~~~,~
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CON~IDE~ y ~ ~~~
Although +,he present policy of the Party toward the landlords is much
more liberal than fcrmerly, there are still. landlords who would like to
sabotage th program, Such an unprinci.rled attitude has already bees mani-
fested to a considerable extent. Although we have achieved national victory,
it is not to bA expec,tod the?. lsnd reform may be carried out entirely peace-
fltlly. We shall have to mske distinctions among the landlords, according to
whether they are vicious or honorable. A liberal policy should be manifested
toward these landlords who are willing to give up their lands and other prop-
erties ir. accordance with the lsw, and they should be left or given land aad
other items on the same basis .as the peasants so that they may be able by their
own labor to secure their own livelihood, and through labor become new men.
The enlightened ger..try who collaborated with the people in the resistance
to Chiang and US imperialism and whc are members of families of revolutionary
soldiers and cadres should be encouraged to set a personal example in carrying
out the law. They should be suitably care3 for after they have turned in their
]ands and such other property as they should turn in. The intellectual^ smong
the families of landlords sho~.,ld be giver, suitable training to reform them.
Opposers of the land law and ssboteurs among the landlord class should be dealt
with according to the lav without. any hesitation or leniency. Provincial and
hsien authorities should take the lead in seeing that such characters are turned
over to the ceurt_.
In order the*? the land reform program may be Pully realized, all aber3tions
must be avoided, such as injury to the interests of the wealthy peasants, or giv-
ing them and small landcwners who rent out their lands the same treatment as is
awarded landlords, or say special favors to landlords such as providing protec-
tion for theme
Organization of A r~_icultural A.sseciations, Strengthening the Peasants'
Utl~,tced Front Ahainst Feudalism
To eliminate the extortionste landlord system, it i.s necessary to secure
the natty of t.)lP 1'artr~ lc~,iprore~ poor fa^me~~nd middle-class farmers in the
agricuii;ui`ai uoeuciations, Aii oi?iier ai;tiie~~~istic classes must also be
brought together, including the intelligentsi8', in ~ common, rural, antifeu-
dalistic front. The organization of agricultural societies should be promoted
en al.l occasions. They should include in their membership farm laborers, poor
farmers, middle-?c lass farmers, impoverished revolutionary intelligentsia, and
all other members of the rural working classes. The associations rtay thus be-
come basic in the unification of the rural masses and in implementing the land-
reform program.
It is not necessary to set up other organizations to include the medium
farmers, but in the agricultural associations, the combined majority of farm
laborers and poor farmers should be maintained. Medium farmers may be in-
cluded among the officers of the associations on the basis of not more than
one third of the total number.
Women and youths should be incl,id.ed in the membership of the agricultural
associa+.ions. Conferences of the women members or their delegates should be
held. The youth members of the associations should have an important place in
strengthening the organizations and in carrying out the land reform.
The reliability of the officers of the agricultural associations will
determine the success of the land-reform movement. Where the associations
have not been set up, ?they should be~ If the leadership proves unreliable,
new elections e.hould be held All cadres engaged in the land-reform program
should ,join.?, the agricultural associations to strengthen the position of the
associatic~is in the work We should depend upon the various activities of
CONFIDIiN'I'IAL
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the agricultural association: to ,_:~:=ever, 'a^_ify, and educate agricultural
cadres and forward-looking elements to hecome leaders in the rural work pro-
gram. The agricultural associations should become strong leadership and ex-
ecutive organs for the advancement of the land-reform movement.
Advantage should be taken of the peoples delegates meetings on all levels
to discuss and resolve various proble~.~e and quc:stiors cP importance, to pub-
licize policies, to unite the masses and to correlate the various levels oY
the people. The purpose of the land~~reform. program should be fully explained
to laborers, students, officials, industrialists, commercialists, and the mili-
tary to secure support, for it~ all these classes should be welcomed to take
part in the movement, as well as the gentry and intelligentsiae All classes
outside the peasants should ,loin in. helping them complete the land-reform pro-
gram.
E~ Variant Methods in Various Areas
Tn prosecute the land-reform program in a well-led, well-planned; and
well=timed manner, it must be based on the local conditions of the moment in
the various areas East China may be divided into four areas.
1~ Areas where conditions are settled, famine has been overcome, organi-
zation and educaticn of the maeQep has reached the required level, cadres have
revised their habits, leadership ie dependable, and complete preparations have
been made may carry out the ].and reform after the autumn grain collection this
year.
2~ Areas where banditry has riot been supreseed, famine conditions not
overcome, officialdom has not been reformed, the agricultural association ca-
dyes are still. unregenerate, and proper preparation has not been made, should
not carry out the land reform this yearn During the autumn and winter these
areas should gather strength in arousing the masses, continue bandit suppres-
sion, rent reduction, famine-relief production, and reform work, and thus pre-
p.sre for the completion of the land reform
3. In press where rental relationships are particularly complicated and
where establishment of strong leadership to prepare the masses is difficult
(such as city suburbs and the areas surrounding them), it will not be wise to
carry out the land reform this winter. Efforts should be made to investigate
and study, establish gatterne, and secure experience to avoid an adverse ef-
fect on production.
4. In older liberated areas, such as Shantung and north Kiangsu, where
the land refo2w*~~ has been carried out, any outstanding problems remaining
should be settled according to proper policies and the principle of unity.
The most important of these are the issuing cf land deeds and the revival
and expansion of production. In special sections of these areas, where the
land-reform program has not been completed, it should be completed in accord
with the law,.
In areas where the land reform is to b? carried out this autumn it should
be publicized that the policy of "the crop to the planter" is to be carried out,
or that the person receiving the land should reimburse the one who has planted
the craps for his planting and fertiliser costs to make a fall planting profit-
able. In. areas where the land reform is not to be completed this autumn, it
should be announced that old rental arrangements will hold over and payments
of rent will bF continued on the reduced rent basis in order no+.. to hirder pro-.
duction.
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F. Establishment of Stron L~eadersh~
To have a land reform characterized by leadership, planning, and system,
it is necessary to develop strong leaders. All authorities must exert com-
petent leadership in land reform and never permit the emergence of any an-
archistic or undisciplined renditions. They must; eu:ploy the methods of coop-
eration of authorities and the m9.sses, of cadres and the agricultural associa-
tions. Cadres from higher levels sent to wcrk in the rural areas must ,join
the local agricultural associations and secure the aid of the aggressive ele-
ments in the associations to carry out their task.
Training of the land?~reform cadre workers should be completed before the
autumn harvest ?. This training should include revision of habits. Before the
autumn harvest, land?-?reform demonstration schools should oe held by provincial,
special administrative di.r:trict, an3 hsien authorities to provide the cadres
with experience. Cadre conferences and people s delegates conference should
also be held to provide experience. Plans should be reported to higher levels
for approval.
At the beginning of the harvest all workers who are to take part in the
land~?reform activity should be sent into the country with a plan for covering
the whole territory and completing the harvest before undertaking the land re-
form. When the lanr'_ distribution begins, it should be carried out rapidly ac-
cording to plan. It should begin in the experimental areas. As experience is
gained, the work should be expanded to neighboring areas in ever widening cir-
cles.
Once the land-reform program has been started, all authorities must carry
on as in wartime, making use of all modern means of communication to maintain
liaison, frequently sending out inspection groups to watch the proceedings.
They should also take note of and maintain control of newpaper publicity. Ca-
dres on the higher levels should frequently penetrate to the lower l,~vels to
uaintain leadership control, solve problems as they crise, correct errors, ex-
change experiences, and promote the enterprise.
An efficient system, of reporting must be maintained during the work. The
eight great disciplines and the landsreform policies must be strictly observed.
All things shall be done according to the law and directives from above, and
nothing else shall be done. A1.1 new problems arising in the course of thi: work
should be referred immediately to higher echelons for solution; no one should
undertake his own solution. Where problems arise in the work that cannot be
solved immediately, the work should be suspended to prevent aggravation of the
trouble.
G. Conclusion
Since land reform is one of the three great factors in the preservation
of the economy, it must be carried out under strong leadership in full con-
formity with the law of the People's Republic sad the principles announced by
Vice-chairman Lit; Shao-ch?i.
_7_
cort>! inErrriaL
C0~~9~~`~~~~~ ~~~,~,
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