Relations Between Officers and Men

Our army has always had two policies. First, we must be ruthless to our enemies, we must overpower and annihilate them. Second, we must be kind to our own, to the people, to our comrades and to our superiors and subordinates, and unite with them.

Source: Speech at the reception given by the Central Committee of the Party for model study delegates from the Rear Army Detachments (September 18, 1944).

我們的軍隊一向就有兩條方針：第一對敵人要狠，要壓倒它，要消滅它；第二對自己人、對人民、對同志、對官長、對部下要和，要團結。

We hail from all corners of the country and have joined together for a common revolutionary objective… Our cadres must show concern for every soldier, and all people in the revolutionary ranks must care for each other, must love and help each other.

Source: "Serve the People" (September 8, 1944), Selected Works, Vol. III, pp. 227-28.

我們都是來自五湖四海，為了一個共同的革命目標，走到一起來了。……我們的幹部要關心每一個戰士，一切革命隊伍的人都要互相關心，互相愛護，互相幫助。

Serve the People — 8 Sept 1944 eulogy for Zhang Side; very short, the source of Chapter 17's first entry.

A movement to support the cadres and cherish the soldiers should be launched in every army unit, calling on the cadres to cherish the soldiers and the soldiers to support the cadres. They should speak up about each other's shortcomings and mistakes and quickly correct them. In this way they will be able to achieve a very good internal unity.

Source: "The Tasks for 1945" (December 15, 1944) Many people think that it is wrong methods that make for strained relations between officers and men and between the army and the people, but I always tell them that it is a question of basic attitude (or basic principle), of having respect for the soldiers and the people.

應在每一部隊內部舉行擁幹愛兵運動，號召幹部愛護士兵，同時號召士兵擁護幹部，彼此的缺點錯誤，公開講明，迅速糾正，這樣就能達到很好地團結內部之目的。

It is from this attitude that the various policies, methods and forms ensue. If we depart from this attitude, then the policies, methods and forms will certainly be wrong, and the relations between officers and men and between the army and the people are bound to be unsatisfactory. Our three major principles for the army's political work are, first, unity between officers and men; second, unity between the army and the people; and third, the disintegration of the enemy forces. To apply these principles effectively, we must start with this basic attitude of respect for the soldiers and the people, and of respect for the human dignity of prisoners of war once they have laid down their arms. Those who take all this as a technical matter and not one of basic attitude are indeed wrong, and they should correct their view.

Source: "On Protracted War" (May 1938), Selected Works, Vol. II, pp. 186-87.

很多人對於官兵關係、軍民關係弄不好，以為是方法不對，我總告訴他們是根本態度（或根本宗旨）問題，這態度就是尊重士兵和尊重人民。從這態度出發，於是有各種的政策、方法、方式。離了這態度，政策、方法、方式也一定是錯的，官兵之間、軍民之間的關係便決然弄不好。軍隊政治工作的三大原則：第一是官兵一致，第二是軍民一致，第三是瓦解敵軍。這些原則要實行有效，都須從尊重士兵、尊重人民和尊重已經放下武器的敵軍俘虜的人格這種根本態度出發。那些認為不是根本態度問題而是技術問題的人，實在是想錯了，應該加以改正才對。

On Protracted War — May 1938, early in the Sino-Japanese War. Predicts a long war and a strategy of trading space for time.

Communists must use the democratic method of persuasion and education when working among the labouring people and must on no account resort to commandism or coercion. The Chinese Communist Party faithfully adheres to this Marxist-Leninist principle.

Source: On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People (February 27, 1957), 1st pocket ed., p. 15.*

共產黨人在勞動人民中間進行工作的時候必須採取民主的說服教育的方法，決不允許採取命令主義態度和強制手段。中國共產黨忠實地遵守馬克思列寧主義的這個原則。

Our comrades must understand that ideological remoulding involves longterm, patient and painstaking work, and they must not attempt to change people's ideology, which has been shaped over decades of life, by giving a few lectures or by holding a few meetings. Persuasion, not compulsion, is the only way to convince them. Compulsion will never result in convincing them. To try to convince them by force simply won't work. This kind of method is permissible in dealing with the enemy, but absolutely impermissible in dealing with comrades or friends.

Source: Speech at the Chinese Communist Party's National Conference on Propaganda Work (March 12, 1957), 1st pocket ed., p. 23.

我們的同志一定要懂得，思想改造的工作是長期的、耐心的、細緻的工作，不能企圖上幾次課，開幾次會，就把人家在幾十年生活中間形成的思想意識改變過來。要人家服，只能說服，不能壓服。壓服的結果總是壓而不服。以力服人是不行的。對付敵人可以這樣，對付同志，對付朋友，絕不能用這個方法。

We must make a distinction between the enemy and ourselves, and we must not adopt an antagonistic stand towards comrades and treat them as we would the enemy. In speaking up, one must have an ardent desire to protect the cause of the people and raise their political consciousness, and there must be no ridiculing or attacking in one's approach.

Source: Ibid., p. 20.*

要分清敵我，不能站在敵對的立場用對待敵人的態度來對待同志。必須是滿腔熱情地用保護人民事業和提高人民覺悟的態度來說話，而不能用嘲笑和攻擊的態度來說話。