Drafting the "May 16 Circular"

Abstract

After Kang Sheng returned, his first act was to transmit [the chairman's opinions] to the group of people at Diaoyutai in charge of writing the "Nine Commentaries."1 Present were Wu Lengxi, Yao Zhen, 2 and Wang Li. Afterward Kang Sheng asked me to arrange the notes taken of the chairman's statements, saying that he intended to convene a meeting of the Political Bureau at once and to transmit them. I objected at the time. I said that these opinions were directed at Peng Zhen. Deng Xiaoping was not in Beijing, and Liu Shaoqi had gone abroad. "It is not appropriate for you to convene [this meeting] and transmit [the chairman's opinions], " I said. Kang Sheng picked up the telephone in my presence and called Deng Xiaoping. The latter, after hearing him out, immediately flew back from Shaanxi Province. The meeting of the Political Bureau was presided over by Deng Xiaoping. Kang Sheng transmitted [the chairman's opinions], and a decision was passed to withdraw the document on the "February Outline." I was asked to draft the decision. I only wrote one sentence: The outline transmitted by the Central Committee on such-and-such a date is now withdrawn. Deng Xiaoping presided over a Political Bureau meeting to discuss this, and all agreed to it. When this was sent to the chairman, however, he was displeased and said that this did not explain matters since it did not mention any issues of substance. He asked Chen Boda to take charge of a redrafting. There was no drafting group, at first. Chen Boda came to me. He would preside, and I would assist in turning out a preliminary draft of the "May 16 Circular." Deng Xiaoping, Peng Zhen, and the premier, who were in Beijing at the time. all made their revisions on the draft. A meeting for revising the circular was held at Diaoyutai, and even Peng Zhen took part. That was at the beginning of April. Apart from pointing out at the time that the "February Outline" had been theoretically inappropriate, no mention was made of the contents that later appeared in bold letters. Kang Sheng wanted to add in the phrase, "an out-and-out revisionist document." Peng Zhen was present at the time, and said: "All right, then. If that must be said, then go the whole way!" (suo jiu shuo gou bo).