Recruit Large Numbers of Intellectuals

This was a “decision” drafted by Comrade Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on December 1, 1939. The title of the decision at that time was " Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Absorbing Intellectuals ", which was later changed into " Recruiting Large Numbers of Intellectuals" when it was included in the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Volume 2. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, many intellectuals took part in the Anti-Japanese and national salvation works led by the Communist Party of China, but many cadres of the Party did not pay attention to the importance of intellectuals, and among the cadres there prevailed the mentality of suspicion and even rejection of intellectuals. In order to promote a correct understanding on the question of intellectuals and give full play to their role in the revolution, Mao Zedong drafted this decision for the Central Committee of the CPC.

The “decision”, emphasized to distinguish between the intellectuals serving the landlord bourgeoisie and those serving the working and peasant classes, it argued that : “we should understand the favourable factor that our Party and our army have already developed a hard core of well-tested cadres and are thus capable of leading the intellectuals.” And when the decision discussed the important role of intellectuals in the cause of revolution, it pointed out: “The Communist Party must be good at winning intellectuals, for only in this way will it be able to organize great strength for the War of Resistance, organize the millions of peasants, develop the revolutionary cultural movement and expand the revolutionary united front. Without the participation of the intellectuals, victory in the revolution is impossible.”

It emphasized: “All Party organizations in the war areas and all army units led by the Party should recruit large numbers of intellectuals into our army, training institutes and organs of government.” “At the same time, we should work effectively to encourage worker and peasant cadres to study hard and raise their cultural level. Thus worker and peasant cadres will at the same time become intellectuals, while the intellectuals will at the same time become workers and peasants.”

The decision put forward the Communist Party of China's policy on intellectuals and pointed out the correct direction to give full play to the role of intellectuals.