CCP TO INCREASE CONTROL OVER ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700110087-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2011
• Sequence Number: 87
• Publication Date: May 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTEU GENCE AGENCYON
INF-RMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMSNTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Political - Party, Communist control
HOW
PUBLISHED Daily newspaper
WHERE
PUBLISHED Peiping
DATE
PUBLISHED 4 Sep 1952
LANGUAGE
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REPORT
CD NO.
DATE OF
DATE DIST. 19 May 1953
NO. CF PAGES 13
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
CCP "_'0 INCREASE CONTROL OVER ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF CHINA
(Comment: on 18 July 1952, Ch'en Po-ta, member of the
Central Committee, Chinese Communist Party, delivered an ad-
dress to the Academy of Sciences of China, in which he stated
that the CCP would "exercise greater control over the academy's
future operations."
Ch'en agreeded with (1) the suggestion of Li Ssu-kuang,
chairman of the All-China Federation of Scientific Societies,
to allow academy leaders to fix research problems for labora-
tories and (2) the report of Kuo Mo-jo, president of the acad-
emy, which recommended~he initiation of an ideological reform
campaign among scientists.
The full text of the address, published in the 4 September
1952 issue of the Peiping Jen-min Jih-pao, follows j
Several members of the Committee on Study, Academy of Sciences, have
asked me to come here ?o say a few words. Preliminary to writing this ad-
dress, I sought instruction from President Kuo of the academy and guidance
from the vice-presidents on the several problems to be treated. I then
consulted with members of the Committee on Study. For any incongruity or
error, however, I alone must answer.
I have three points to make in this address. The first concerns the
relationship between CCP members working in the Academy of Sciences and
nonparty scientists and the relationship between the old and the new sci-
entists. The second concerns the orientation of the operations of the
academy. The third is a brief observation on scientists and patriotism.
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r
A. Relationship Between Communist Party Members in the Academy
and Nonparty Scientists; Relationship Between Old and New Scientists
There are some CCP members active in the Academy of Sciences. What should
be the nature of their relationship with scientists? Communist Party members
in the academy must conduct themselves in an exemplary fashion because our
party leads the Central People's Government and commands the infinite respect
of all the people. If we are rorrect in our performance, the operations of
the academy will progress. If we are incorrect, these operations will regress.
Each party member must be held responsible for the beneficial or detrimental
results, of the academy's operations.
Hdw:can a CCP member help produce beneficial results? Should he abuse
party authority, assume a posture of conceit, issue commands, and entertain
the belief that all scientists must first consult with him before they pro-
ceed to research activity? To permit such conceptions to prevail would be
fundamentally erroneous. The central duty of a party member in the Academy
of Sciences is to learn humbly from the scientist and to help him along to
more fruitful research. Chairman Mao has instructed party members working
.in all fields of national importance to be humble in disposition and to
avoid postures of conceit. This will facilitate the unification of party
and nonparty members for beneficial purposes. Obviously, Chairman Mao's in-
structions have become more relevant for application now that the CCP has
assumed national power. These instructions have particular significance for
party members working in the academy.
Permit me to quote a passage from Lenin's writings, namely, "Plan for
An Integrated Economy." In this article written in 1921, Lenin commented on
the relationship between Communist Party members and nonparty scientists as
follows: "Someone has long since remarked that the vices of man are gener-
ally related to his virtues. Communists in leadership positions have numer-
ous imperfections. Over the past few decades, we have accomplished much.
We have agitated for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie and taught ourselves
never to trust bourgeois specialists. We have exposed these specialists,
assumed their political power, and put down their resistance. The enter-
prises we have embarked upon have been magnificent -- of historic signifi-
cance for the world. But if one should boast a little, an eternal truth
will have been proven [arrogance leads to mistakes]; that is, a miss is as
good as a mile. We have already convinced Russia, taken her from the hands
of the e.ploiters and delivered her up into the hands of the workers. We
have already put down the exploiters. The time has come for us to learn
how to govern Russia. To this end, we must learn how to direct, with humil-
ity and due respectfulness, the practical work in which the scientific and
technical experts are now engaged. To this end, we must learn how to ana-
lyze, from the realist's and perfectionist's standard of reference, the
divers concrete errors committed in the course of our work. We must learn
to go ahead unimpeded and correct those errors. We must cast away those
postures of conceit so peculiar to the intellectual and the bureaucrat.
Let us rather set our minds to the task of mastering the experience gained,
nationally and regionally, from concrete activity as well as from the leg-
acy to which science has made us heir."
Lenin's comments were pertinent to the orientation he believed Bolshe-
viks must adopt toward scientists because the Bolsheviks had become the
political leaders of Russia. It is precisely this orientation that our CCP
members must adopt. Of course, the objective conditions obtaining in the
present stage of our revolution are different from the objective conditions
which obtained in the Russian revolution when the bourgeoisie had to be, and
was, overthrown. The objective conditions in China's present revolutionary
stage are such: we have been victorious over imperialism and its subservient,
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counterrevolutionary Kuomintang regime of feudal landlords and bureaucrat-
capitalis~s, but we are preserving the national bourgeoisie. However, the
course Lenin insisted that the Bolsheviks must follow in learning how to
govern Russia is the very same course we must now follow in learning how to
govern China. For this reason, it is imperative that our CCP members as-
sume an humble attitude in work at the academy, endeavor to learn from the
true scientists, and earnestly assist these scientists in more fruitful
research. To do otherwise would be a violation of duty.
Permit me to spell out in greater detail, the procedure our party mem-
bers must follow in establishing proper liaison with scientists. Lenin, in
the above-mentioned article, said: "It is the duty of Communist Party mem-
bers in the State Commission for the Electrification of Russia to avoid com-
mandism as much as possible and perhaps even -- more suitably -- to entirely
r"?^ni.n from emol.ovin, the command method. When dealin, with scientists and
technicians -- most of them invariably have some of the cosmopolitanism and
the habits of the bourgeoisie; this is clarified in the Rules of the Rus-
sian Communist Party -- we must assume a uniquely perfectionist and positiv-
ist attitude, learn from them, help them broaden their personal perspective,
and instruct them to base all points of departure on verified factual data
and on the results of scientific research. Always remember that the engi-
neer does not view Communist ideology and its development as the result of
the underground propagandists' writings, but rather as experimental results
which he, as a researcher, has arrived at in his personal field of scientific
endeavor. For example, the agricultural specialist accepts Cor?unist ideol-
ogy as a consequence of his own psychological processes and the forestry
specialist accepts Communist ideology as a consequence of his psychological
processes, and so on."
Lenin is saying that the scientist and the engineer must abide by the
results which are derivative of their personal scientific specializations and
that they must follow individual psychological processes toward the acc.pt-
ance of Communism. This idea is eminently pertinent to our pre:;ent opera-
tions.
The October Revolution introduced new areas of research for Soviet Sci-
entists and transformed unity of action with the masses into a real possib*1-?
ity. The Communist Party and the people showed the highest respect for their
endeavors. Again and again utilitarian targets were set for the scientists.
Thus, the scientists closed the psychological gap by following the experi-
mental results of Personal research to the acceptance of the basic principles
of Communist doctrine. A parallel siti;ation was created in China after the
people's revolutionary victory.
Prior to the complete national revolutionary victory, Chairman !.!so
pointed out that such a victory would have been impossible without the par-
ticipation of the intelligentsia. Now that we have won, it is i:.rporativc
that the large-scale national construction be carried out. Accorrolishmrot of
this task will require, more than ever, the participation ?,f !-,!;;e r55rou0s of
the intelligentsia and the scientists. Soon,c:e shall certain.l: :,nave anon;;
capable scientists. At present, however, it is e:aential to devwLnn the
ability of scientists currently engaged in research. * 1st aid :.he:r, in
fruitful research, in deepening personal perspective. ','e runt ' -r.?? 01m
gradually toward Communist ideoloiy. When in cor:uact with nonoa:-,.y sci-
entists, we party members must remember that among nonparty scientists there
are many who have made signal achievements in scientific research and, since
the liberation, have begun to touch upon the concrete problems of national
construction and have even made unique contributions to this construction.
Although these contributions are not monumental, they are a good
starting point. They are empirical proof of the dictum that when
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scientists side with the people hidden genius is called into play. In the
future, such good, conscientious nonparty scientists can contribute much to
the nation.
In the past, various historical factors as well as social environment
have prevented them from accepting Marxist-Leninist doctrine. They buried
their heads in books and made no inquiries about conditions obtaining in the
world outs.'.de. Yet they cannot be blamed. In passing judgement on the old
scientists, we cannot -- must not -- use as our standard of adjudication the
date of t?,eir acceptance of Marxism-Leninism. The Important thing to observe
is whether they, when engaged in scientific research, behave as real searchers
for truth. It is very important for CCP members to understand this.
Furthermo':, the scientists will be guilty of a serious mistake if they
shun progress, and, because of their status among the people and respect in
the eyes of the party membership, if they assume attitudes of conceit and in-
ertia in thought and action. At an earlier date, Chairman Mao stated that
those intellectuals and scientists who seek success in their occupation must
work with the people. Otherwise, they will accomplish nothing. One hundred
years of experience attests to the fact that our scientists can seek future
merit only among the people and in cooperation with the Communist Party. It
is imperative that every true scientist understand what I have just said.
Thus the relationship cuts both ways. The party member should cooper-
ate with the scientist and learn from and help him in the solution of research
problems. On the other hand, the scientist should directly -- voluntarily --
coordinate personal research with the tasks of the masses and, at present
with national construction.
Of course, this does not mean that a relationship of mutual criticism
between the party member in the academy and the nonparty scientist should be
inoperative. This type of mutual criticism is very essential. Many scien-
tists cling to antiquated ideas inherited from the old society and cannot
make a clean break with the past. For example, some adhere to bourgeois cos-
mopolitanism as an ideological guide in their research endeavors, retair hab-
its derived from the old society, and lack conviction. Their research is of
a piecemeal sort. Is it permissible for a CCP member to critize these short-
comings? Yes: Criticism in this case is not only permissible, but mandatory.
Such criticism should assist the scientist in enlarging his personal perspec-
tive and in improving his research.
Is it permissible Tor a nonparty scientist to criticize party members
working in the academy (and party members who are scientific workers and whose
currently small numbers are being increased daily) who have committed errors?
Yes! This is absolutely permissible and mandatory.
I scientists with party membership status take advantage of their
positior and deal cavalierly with scientific research and researchers (while
neglecting personal studies), insisting, when discussing problems that arise,
that they are "100-percent Marxism," they wily not gain full recognition in
our group. Party scientists who nurture erroneous concepts and who are guilty
of malfeasance must be severely criticized by all concerned. A person must
not be drawn into the false belief that just because he is a party member or
has party seniority he is therefore -- automatically -- "100 percent Marxian"
and infallible.
Of course, some criticism can always prove to be erroneous. Thus it
is necessary for everyone concerned to talk over recurrent problems. In
masterpiece Problems of Marxism in Linguistic Research Mzxism and Lin is-
tic 7, Stalin sa It I. universally accepted that wi hout a difference of
opinion and a freedom in criticism, it is impossible for science to develop
and progress."
STAT
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Chairman Mao once said: "Self-satisfaction is the enemy of study."
This is a universal truth. Whether one is a veteran member of the Communist
Party or a party member with high social status, when self-satisfaction begins
to germinate, the mind begins to deteriorate. K'ang Yu-wei -- a bourgeois re-
former who instituted the Reform Movement with Emperor Kuang Hsu -- remarked
that at the age of 30 his knowledge was complete. K'ang denied himself fur-
ther advancement for he believed that all true principles in the world had
been already comprehended.. In the beginning, he was a progressive. The older
generation even regarded him as a rebel. But he degenerated from a progres-
sive to a reactionary. Of course, the primary reason for such a degeneration
may be found in his class-conditioned thinking. It is equally obvio;is that
inevitably he would have turned reactionary as a result of his self-satis-
faction.
The Chinese of old used to say: "Studying is like rowing upstream:
not to progress is to retrogress." Every-thing moves forward. One may be
correct today, but something new will appear tomorrow and if this new concept
is not grasped and comprehended, one will surely lag behind. And how rapidly
our people's tasks move along today: New phenomena appear; those with the
slightest tinge of utopianism will be relegated to the past. Thus, who can
say when and under what conditions a party member i.. absolutely '100 percent
correct?" Whether one is a member of the Communist Party or not, if he
claims to be "100 percent correct," but has not worked with true conviction
on a concrete research problem, he can progress only with the assistance of
criticism. For a CCP member who errs in this way, criticism should be even
more severe.
Thus, party members may criticize nonparty workers, the bourgeois
cosmopolitanism they drag along from the old society, and all the old habits
and erroneous concepts. The nonparty worker has the right to criticize the
mistakes of his counterpart in the Communist Party. In this there is mutual
help and progress. The academy will surely show marked improvement when such
mutual criticism and self-criticism become operative.
In the operations of the academy, we must study not only the relation-
ship between CCP members and nonparty scientists, but also the liaison exist-
ing between the old and the new scientists, that is, old and young in years.
Some old scienti.sts despise the new scientists and some of the new ones de-
spise the old. Why is this true? The old and new scientists have, without
exception, virtues as well as shortcomingsy.but each side appraises the other's
weaknesses in the light of respective personal virtues. Thus, mutual dis-
respect prevails. .
We all recognize that the old scientist has his peculiar virtues, of
which experi.:nce is most important. He is more knowledgeable. Yet, there
are several shortcomings and imperfections. On the assumption that he has
-ead more books and consequently has become more prescient than his younger
counterpart, the old scientist "follows tradition and withdraws from the
dusty world." Self-satisfaction develops and personal conclusions appear
inviolable.
I have .tudied in traditional schools ,there the ideology of the old
teacher is different from that of the young pupil. If one did not lisle'
to and obey the teacher, the latter would strike him across the face. 'J-he
teacher believed that there were no true principles other than those which had
already been revealed. He would become angry if a young ran cteppe%i. L?,~yond
what was formerly youth's prescribed station.
These teachers did not recognize their profound personal icnorance.
Similarly, many old scientists have been unable to comprehend i:'mneuiately new
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principles. By "many" I of course do i.ot mean all of the old scientists. Yet
some of the young jcientists react to and accept new phenomena more rapidly.
Old scientists retain antiquated, bourgeois concepts and codes of behavior,
such as individualism, sectarianism, and personal ambition. These are cer-
tainly serious weaknesses. On the other hand, the outstanding virtues of the
young scientists are to be seen in their immediate reaction to new phenomena
and in their active progressiveness. There are no traces of self-satisfaction
with what has been mastered and new techniques are accepted because the tra-
ditional influence has been negligible.
Of 'course, :here are young scientists who are very egotistic -- self-
satisfied with their own minor achievements. Yet the central defect lies in
the young scientist's inexperience. His scientific foundation has no depth.
He might transpose the old scientist's defects to the position of personal
merit and consequently stumble about with little care for details.
If the old and new scientists could understand the nature of their
respective counterpart's imperfections and virtues, there would be a mutual
criticism of imperfections and a mutual acquisition of virtues. Thus the old
scientist would learn how to be young and the young scientist would acquire
experience and depth of understanding. The old scientist should love and pro-
tect his young counterpart. The young scientist should respect, honor, and,
more important, attempt to recognize the virtues of his old counterpart -- ac-
quire knowledge from him and ask for instruction.
B. Orientation of Operations of the Academy
There is an easy solution to the problem of directing the operations
of the Academy of Sciences. The academy's benevolent research should serve
the immediate needs of the people and assist in the completion of the nation's
present central task of construction. It is imperative that scientists re-
main realistic -- very realistic. To be in touch with reality is to be truly
in touch with the broadest cross section of the people. Clearly, our science
can advance rapidly only with the welfare of the people as its fundamental
orientation and the realistic liaison with the masses as its fundamental goal.
In the past, our nation has produced a few genuine natural scientists.
Although they were realistic and diligent in scientific research, they failed
to produce a single monumental contribution. Our nation has yet to bring forth,
in this modern era, a natural scientist of top rank and international fame or
make a contribution to natural science that is especially creative and signifi-
cant for the entire world.
Is thi.: true because we are peculiarly incapable? Of course this car-)t
be the conclusion. The conclusion is that under the counterrevolutionary re-
gime -- the imperialist regime -- China's industry could not develop and conse-
quently the needs of our people were met unsatisfactorily. The few persons who
studied science were nappreciated; unfinished research was invariably abandone'i.
Other persons confined themselves to their private quarters and worked alone.
Could science possibly have developed in such times? Could ire have made great
contributions?
We cannot fully blame the old scientists for this because it was a s_?-
uation which had been wrought by social and historical factors. Today, China
has undergone a complete revolutionary transfc-oration and industrialization ie
about to begin. How is this industrialization to come about? It it as neces-
sary to have dynamic scientists as it is to have'a dynamic people. The sacred
trust of the scientists is to assist, with conviction, in the industrialization
of thed nation. In this task, every road naturally passes through the domain of
science-and every such road leads science into unobst-ructed future development.
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If our scientists look but do not see, listen but do not heal the rum-
bling o1' the revolutionary transformation of society and the great forthcoming
task of industrialization; if they conceive of science as a "lone fragrance ap-
preciated only by the self" and consider that after all it is beet to lock one-
self up in a tiny room and work in solitude, they will have cut themselves off
from essential reality and will degenerate into the state of anarchy. A sci-
entist who lacks concern for the nation's welfare and the people's standard of
living cannot possibly make outstanding discoveries in science. The great sci-
entists Pavlov and Michurin were extremely patriotic and ever conscious of the
nation's welfare and the people's standard of living. Thus their monumental
discoveries were not the end products of historical chance.
When Chairman Mao ;ommente,i on the need for working with the people, he
naturally emphasized coordinated research for the people's welfare. At present,
large-scale economic construction is vital for national welfare. The following
tasks are also important: the strengthening of the nation's defenses and the
pursuit of peace, the continuous elevation of the material and cultural stand-
ards of the people, and the transformation of our country fromthe New Democracy
stage to the socialist and, eventually, Communist era. If our scientists hope
to raise the general level of China's science and propel this science up to the
level of world science, they must come to grips with reality and coordinate re-
search in the service of the people. Orientation toward the people and coordi-
nate of research are thus the fundamental goals of the Academy of Sciences.
There can be no other orientation.
The orientation is clear. I want to explain, more fully, however, a
few relevant problems.
First, I oppose the ?reientation of a biased formulation of the prob-
lem of relating theory to practice. One might ask: "Is it not sufficient
to practice without theory?" The answer is no! Ile should not! As long as
theory must be related to practice, there remain two sides to the problem.
If there were only one side, the problem of finding a relationship would be
nonexistent. What I mean to say is that the two must not be isolated but
related. It is incorrect to speak of theory without practice or practice
without theory. Stalin said: "Theory without practice, is empty theory.
Practice without theory, ir blind practice." Chairman Mao often quotes t.ris
remark to refute the extremist tendencies: the favoring of theory over prac-
tice and the favoring of practice over theory.
The integration of theory with practice is demanded by the Marxist-Lenin-
ist doctrine in every scientific endeavor. Stalin said: "Theory is the total
experience of the international labor movement." His reference is speci'.'ically
to the theory of social revolution.
I am an outsider looking at the natural sciences, but I believe that
theory in natural science is, similarly, the total experience of pra:ticc.
It is impossible to produce theory without total practical experience in the
field of kinematics.
According to the explanation offered in Marxist-Leninist doctrine, theory
must postulate the laws of the motion of matter and must clearly :;;:ate he
numerous, differing relationshinn which obtain in the various clan,ific:i;:?.,?,
of matter. This explanatior is true for research procedure in the natural
sciences. What kind of. theory is that which cannot clearly describe the e:;?
sential nature of matter and the relationships between various clacaification:;
of ratter? How will the laws of motion and the interrelationships of ?:ari.cu^
classifications of matter be postulated if concrete, objective matter ti n.,
carefully studied and voluminous reference materials avoided:
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Chairman Mao clearly explains these problems in his works, "On Practice"
and "On Contradiction." Chairman Mao has always emphasized, especially in
his article entitled "On the Reform of Our Study," that we must support coher-
ent and thorough analyses with sufficient documentation. Viewed in this light,
theory must be the analysis and description of the internal and external re-
laticnships obtaining in a given quantum of matter and must be supported by a
full documentation from factual data. As such, theory cannot be solely depend-
ent upon superficial facts and special examples bar Luse these do not consti-
tute bases for a valid theory. One cannot induce a theory from disconnected
and irrelevant facts.
? It follows, therefore, that the integration of theory with practice does
not presuppose the integration of a special aspect of practice with theory;
rather, it presupposes the integration of all the various aspects of practice
connected with a particular theory.
Of course, a specialized science examines quantums of particular kinds
of matter. Yet the internal and external relationships obtaining in a given
quantum of matter are multiple and to draw arbitrary 7onclusions from only one
relationship would be incorrect. Instead, by observation and experiment, we
must understand the nature of matter from a total, but composite, perspective.
Thus in relating theory to practice, we must view theory in its multiple re-
lationships to practice. We must always keep in mind the instructions of
Chairman Mao to avoid superficiality.
We must repeatedly emphasize the principle that one cannot omit practice
and discuss theory in a vacuum. Similarly, we cannot omit the rich and varied
experience of practice and work from a prejudiced schema. To isolate an ob-
ject, rejecting,and denying the relevance of the milieu in which it is found,
and to conduct experimental research from a prejudiced schema in the solitude
of one's private laboratory is to estrange oneself from the totality of the
real world. For example, I have been informed of a certain scientist who
neglected the relevance of soils in the solution of problems dealing with
land fertilization. To solve a practical problem in such a manner is, I fear,
inappropriate. Although the object of research is a concrete relationship --
a definite, practical relationship -- if one isolates this object of study
from the total milieu, an accurate theory cannot be proposed. For, since
theory is the postu?r.tion of the laws of the motion of matter, matter and en-
vironment in which it is found must be interrelated.
With regard to the question of relating theory to reality, =ono persons
may ask: "Certain theories of the natural sciences have no direct beating on
current production. The relationship is indirect. Should such theories be
retained?" Yes, of course! Current production .as no immediate relevance to
astronomical and mathematical research, and vice versa.
Yet these two sciences explain different phenomena, and these exa'.ana-
tions aid in the development of research techniques and widen the izon of
other scientific disciplines. In this way, researc} in astronorv and rath-
ematics can be of some use in the development of industry and ag i,r'I w e.
A similar relationship exists between research in other fields of natur-,i ;cj-
ence and current tasks. Thus, some theories are immediately :?eJevan to cur-
rent production but are only indirectly relevant to concrete atm,li' +ion.
These theories may even be totally inapplicable to current production, al_
though the possibility exists that they will be applicable to future produc-
tion.
Let us recognize that at present certain scientific ordecvmrc arc just
in the early developmental stage; for us to der,,:nd ira:_u.iate unive l ap-
plication to current production to enable the 1J*-irc, ctand_ard of the peen-r-r
STAT
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to rise would be unreal. Actually, the conscious integration of scientific
research with the needs of the people is progressing from a ::wall-scale to
a large-scale operation. In scientific research, we must maintain attitudes
of respectf*.ness and willingness to assist. The utmost folly -- the aban-
donment of research -- would be the immediate result of our failure to as-
sist directly in all scientific endeavors.
Someone has raised the question of the applicability of the various dis-
ciplines of the social sciences, for example,historical and archaeologi.cal re-
search, to current production problems. I believe that research in these dis-
ciplines has no immediate applicability to current production. Yet such re-
search brings to many persons an understanding of historical events and to sci-
ence a broader perspective. Thus we should give it our support.
Second, our scientific perspective must be extended so tbat.we do not be-
come automatically -limited to irrelevant scientific research.. 'I Have heard of
some scientists who ant to "pursue extraneous subjects to-traII endental levels,
to "discover something wonderful." We must not coerce them them to
discontinue such projects. We must not wave a menacing, cautionary finger and
say: "You must not pursue this matter further!" We must persuade. If they
continue to?reject majority opinion, permit them to work on these projects.
When they have missdd the mark and met'vith failure, they will come to acknowl-
edge that-the majority opinion was correct and will change over, voluntarily,
to work for the goals we have set.
I must repeat that it is mandatory for scientific research to contribute
to national construction. Thus the research problems which occupy the sci-
entist's time should be primarily oriented toward procuring the things uni-
versally demanded by the people. Research problems should be significant for
the entire nation. In a word, research should have a d"finite aim. Major
problems should be solved. We must not search for the "twigs and branches"
only. We must not study for the sake of study.
Marxists have always criticized the opportunist Bernstein, a leader of
the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Lenin said that "his nano will live
in infamy" because he maligned Marxism. Bernstein said: "The movement is
everything; the aim is nothing." Marx said that we must embark upon the
great proletarian revolutionary movement, overthrow the bourgeotsie, enforce
the dictatorship of the proletariat, and establish socialism and Communism.
But Bernstein, in his blasphemous manner, said that that movement was com-
pletely aimless. In research, we Marxists must have a clear and. definite
goal before us. Our work will prove to be quite useless without a goal. 'de
must study for the sake of the people and in order to solve the major problems
existing in the sciences.
Someone might say: "I am interested in this particular project." The
Marxist must reply that individual interests, aims, and benefits will not
be obliterated. All we require is that individual aims coalesce with the
larger aim of meeting the people's needs. We have here a specific otand,~.rd
with which to measure the importance and relevance of i ndi -: ; ,
aims, and benefits. In other words, these individual indrl. once:: :r., 'sc
directed toward elevating the people's welfare. It is err .'env- tc ' n?ce
these individual indulgences from those of the people.
Some assiduous scientists are engaged in research ie:j fteri
without results -- which is oriented solely toward persona'_. 7i `ersssr. .1 peer
son engaged in the study of h. ?story who directs his attention a :.sift l^.
tion of clan genealogies is, we admit, studying a ,aterial thing and. a cc~c_?e'.
phenomenon. Yet he could study for a Ion ; time. .io'tld it d any Boot or
serve a useful purpose'. It would be useful _for the clan and use'.;:s
nation's people. Therefore, one .sight as .:ell a oi.d research be^. ar ;e aint'r?:
indiscriminate research ,.asst energy.
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Permit me to say, as a corollary, that while some objects at first glance
appear insignificant and consequently gain only minimal recognition, the per-
ceptive scientist may discover, after adequate research, that these objects
explain certain important problems or lead to important discoveries. We must
not ridicule the scientist who is engaged in such.a study. We must not stand
in his way. We must rather respect his intelligence because we cannot know a
priori that his research will not end in a monumental contribution. We ask
only that the scientist be able to explain the plans and the aim of his re-
search projects.
Third, in the preface to the French translation of Des Kapital, Marx
said: "There is no smooth and easy road in the sciences. Only those who do
not fear danger and hardship can hope to reach the summit." In histori.eal
research, Marx was a man of outstanding genius. In scientific work, however,
he had to labor strenuously. If one does not labor strenuously and far into
the night while conducting research, his contribution will be insignificant.
Marx was like this. Engels was like this. Lenin and Stalin were like this.
In China, Chairman Mao is like this.
Everyone should emulate Marx. I think our scientists would do well to
understand a little about Marx's research procedures. Everyone must look for
these study materials in the work Reminiscences of Marx by Lafargo and Lipkins.
From this book we come to understand the truth of the principle that genius is
nothing more than diligent study. Genius does not come from heaven, but from
earth. How does one become a genius? One becomes a genius by planting him-
self on the firm ground of reality. Airplanes fly into the heavens, but they
always rise first from the ground. There is no air base in the heavens! We
have many persons in China who were precocious and not too bad in their youth.
Yet the results they have achieved are still insignificant. Looked at from
the individual's viewpoint, and disregarding his social position and environ-
ment, such persons have equated genius with flights into space. They have yet
to discover a base on the firm ground. When they fall, they are dashed to
bits -- flesh and bone. The old Chinese proverb puts it thus: "Wisdom in
youth does not necessarily lead to wisdom in maturity." Why is it that one
may be wise when young and unwise when old? It is because when wisdom be-
comes mani?est, the individual relies solely upon this wisdom and shuns strenu-
ous labor. But at this stage, his wisdom becomes warped. For this reason,
it is imperative to cultivate an attitude of total simplicity and humility
and integrate such with aggressiveness. Chairman Mao demands this of us.
This simplicity, humility, and aggressiveness, this strenuous labor which
subsides only when the goal is reached cannot be separated from the need for
constant self-criticism. An intellectual who does not perpetually review his
personal shortcomings and correct his personal er.?ors is not a simple and hum-
ble intellectual. He will achieve little in the field of science. Consider
Marx as a case in point. Engels said: "Marx believed that even his best was
not good enough for the working class. He insisted that if one did not offer
his best for the cause of the worker, it would really be a sin:"
In the Reminiscences of Marx, the authc?_z write: "RA (i.nrx) not only re-
fused to accept facts as a matter of trust, but also in treating any problem
he refused to partleipate in a discussion of it prior to making a i:acr?u h
study of it. He was always unwilling to release a work for publication until
he had revised it several times and was fully satin.^ied with it. Ile ::?atlt
never dangle half-baked ideas before the public eye. To let soceonu l.arse
at a draft manuscript which had not been personally proofread would cause hi
the utmost consternation."
It is clear that Larx has mastered the synthesis of positive realism .?.t9
calf-criticism. At present, the center of our attention is in rultiva:tny chic
STAT
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STAT
Marxist attitude in our academy. We must recognize that in scientific research
the slightest miscalculation irevitably results in large errors. Our sci-
entific worlterr should proceed only after their feet have been solidly planted
in firm ground. They must advance through the avenue of tireless competition.
We must not be fearful of correcting personal errors and must, on the one hand,
openly accept the criticism of others, and, on the other, subject ourselves,
with like zeal, to constant self-criticism.
Fourth, the scientists of the academy should regard scientific research
as a task held in common by the people and the scientists. It is essential
to establish a basis of mutual assistance in our research and, gradually, a
method of group study. For one to work alone and not help others is an im-
permissible procedure. The practice of allowing each to sweep the snow from
his doorstop heedless of the frost on the tiles of others" should be discarded
in the new era. A system of liaison and a method of concrete mutual assistance
should be established between each research agency and each laboratory. Our
scientists should unite and cooperate with each other. Self-criticism should
be properly and universally coordinated.
Research programs can be drawn up for the academy on the basis of the
preceding principles. Each researcher and each laboratory should draw up a
research program and submit it to the leadership organization of the academy
for examination.. The leadership organization of the academy should discuss
each program with the laboratory concerned. A comprehensive program must
then be designed and presented to the nation as a program of the Academy of
Sciences. In preparing these programs, it is essential to obtain the opinions
and suggestions of all the industrial, agricultural, communications, and water
conservation agencies of the Central People's Government and to formulate, in
precise terms, the essential tasks. This will link our program more closely
to national needs and facilitate the smooth execution of the plans. Of course,
this program may be changed to meet changes in objective conditions.
Li Ssu-kuang has an excellent idea. He says that the leadership organiza-
tion of the academy should help the various laboratories to fiy researc} prob-
lems. This, I think, is the focal point of operations of the academy's
leadership.
C. The Scientist and Patriotism
The scientist should love his country. He snould serve his fatherland
and his people. Everyone knows that, for us, patriotism and internationalism
are inseparable.
Our China has a long history of culture and civilization and has con-
tributed notably to world civilization: the art of printing, gunpowder, the
compass, and so on. This is universally acknowledged. But if, on ';hac-
court, we become egotists, our contributions will lose their luster. Be-
sides, these are our ancestors' contributions, not ours. It is n?.t comer:
"to count the canonical texts Lone has mastered and forget the ante^tr,rs
responsible for aidirg such raetery7." Yet we 'must not remember only o.
ancestors and forget about ourselves. This would be more ircerrect. T,
get the backwardness of modern China in the sciences is to he cor.ilet.e7;;
bereft of a future perspective. It must be recognized that at preser.c un
trail behind. We rust catch up to those ahead of us. To catch up, we ?12%
strive tenaciously. We must not boast.
We must acquire creative self-confidence. Imperialist afgresrlor
abroad and ^ounterrevolutionary rule at hone have drag ed our country ir;c a
dark abyss. Those who ticked confidence in the people believed that
future was hopeless. A few cultured compradors said: '?' yon the morn "h n_ r
brighter in the US."
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F
There are such persons in scientific circles. They believe that every-
thing in the US and England is good and that everything we have is inadequate.
This kind of national self-degradation is our heritage from imperialist op-
pression. At present, however, the people of the fatherland have been liber-
ated and have broken the shackles forged by world imperialism. Our revolution
has gone through periods of extreme suffering and bitter hardship, but the
Chinese people under the leadership of the CCP and Chairman Mao have emerged as
the ultimate victors in the protracted struggle.
This proves what Stalin pointed out long ago: "The forces of the Chinese
revolutionary movement are incalculable." The future of the Chinese people
is unlimited because they possess such a great, incalculable c".?centratior
of forces. We scientists are the Chinese people's children. Can we not
achieve great merit for the fatherland under the leadership of Chairman 11,n?
Indeed we can! We scientists, with the leadership of Chairman Mao, can
achieve great merit for the fatherland and the people.
To be sure, most of our science is still in the stage of infancy, but
infancy has its advantages: science then is not shackled by old traditions
and can accept new things with facility. We are everywhere, with regard to
science, in unplowed territory. If every scientist were to apply himself and
release his energies, we would have scientific achievements.
In 1945, Chairman Mao said his work On Coalition Government: "Without an
independent, free, democratic, and unified China, there can be no industrial-
ized China. Japanese aggression had to be eliminated for our independence.
The Kuomintang's monolithic dictatorship was obliterated as our coalition
government instituted the people's freedom, the people's unity, and the
people's army. Land reform and the concomittant liberation of the peasants
led to freedom, democracy, and unity. Without independence, freedom, democ-
racy, and unity, there can be no real large-scale national industrialization.
Without industrialization, there can be no resolute national defense, no
people's welfare, no national prosperity.
"The 150 years of history since the Opium War of 1840, and particularly
the 18 years of Kuomintang rule, have vividly clarified this i"mortant truth
for the Chinese people. A China not weak, but strong, is a China neither
colonial nor semicolonial but independent; a China not feudalistic but free
and democratic, not divided but united. For many years, many people in semi-
colonial, semifeudal, and divided China dreamed to develop industry, build
national defense, raise the people's living standards, and prosper the na-
tion. But the dream vanished. Many good-hearted educators, scientists, and
students showed no political appetite, believing that they could best serve
the country through self-imposed studies. As a result, the dream resolved
itself into nothingness. That it dissolved was a fortunate event.
The dissolution of such an infantile dream heralded the beginning of a
strong China. The Chinese people learned much during the war against Japan.
They discovered that after the elimination of the Japanese aggressors, It
was imperative to build r" a New Mmncracy in an independent, free: demo-
cratic, unified, and strong nation. All these conditions are interrelated
anu since one depends upon the other, we must have all in o?.u? fatherlan,l.
If we can have all, ther is hope for China. For the liberation of the Chinese
people's productive power, and providing it with the potential of full :.e-
velopment, depends on the realization of the political conditions and cir-
cumstances of the New Democracy within the entire territory of China."
This passage describes the development of the conditions which led tro
the dissolution of the dream of so many people all. of whom had originally
hell ved that it was possible to develop industry and to build a strong
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nation under the rule of foreign imperialism and feudalism. IL shows that
without the overthrow of the imperialists and the Kuomintang regime, there
could be no People's Democracy government and no industrialization of China.
But now, these political conditions are before our eyes. In the not too
distant future we shall be able to build up a strong, industrialized nation.
This is no longer a dream. It is reality -- something we can already see.
Our scientists are fortunate in that the fatherland is a mighty country wait-
ing for us to advance, to develop scientifically. In other words, our sci-
entists have an open field for maneuvers. Consequently, they are optimistic.
There has bee:. no large-scale campaign to further the cause of science
since the founding of our great People's Republic of China. We have not yet
found a way to establish national merit. Although there have been some con-
tributions, they remain generally negligible. Hereafter, we must strive, in
a more positive manner, to achieve something for the people, to achieve some-
thing for the fatherland, to achieve something really outstanding. Some in-
dividual scientific researchers have adopted the negative attitude expressed
as follows: "If one does not seek great achievement, then in seeking he will
be faultless.'This is bad. We should -- indeed we must -- seek to achieve
something great and good. Not to seek to achieve something good is in itself
bad. How can one not seek to achieve something good and still feel that one
is not bad? In striving to achieve something good, of course, one is bound
to make mistakes. Thus we :could acquire a spirit of criticism and self-
criticism and try our best to avoid mistakes, or at least reduce their num-
ber.
It is very important to study Soviet science. Under the banner of Lenin
and Stalin, Soviet science stands at the forefront of world science and has
made great contributions to the world. The things that Soviet science has
contributed, as well as the techniques, should be studied. President Kuo of
the academy has issued a call to everyone to study the Russian language. I
believe this to be a short cut for everyone who studies Soviet science. Many
of you here understand English, French, and German. Consequently, you will
be able toy earn Russian rapidly. Of course, to say "Study Soviet science"
is not to say that we should not make use of the works of English and US sci-
entists for reference. We not only can use them for reference, we must use
them for reference. Generally speaking, however, all that is good in Eng-
lish and US science has already been compiled by the Soviet Union. Thus,
it is quicker to study from the Soviet Union -- and better.
The Central Committee of the CCP and Chairman Mao are especially inter-
ested in and concerned about the activities of the academy. During the past
3 years, our party and our Central People's Government have not had time to
give much attention to the academy's operations because of the multiplicity
of tasks China has had to deal with. But we can expect that our party and
our Central People's Government will gradually exercise greater control over
the academy's future operations because the people need scientific achieve-
ment. If the country is to undertake large-cale, long-term eeoncmic con-
struction, we must rely on the efforts of science.
Finally, I completely agree with President Run's report on ideological
reform. The importance of ideological reform it clear to all of us. The
ideological reform of scientific researchers is naturally a long-term pro-
cess. Besides, we have just quoted Lenin to the effect: that the :oicn ast
must, through personal toil, gradually become willing to accept Co,?mnunist
thinking. However, if we could have but one intensive drive for ideological
reform, this would enable ou scientists to cast aside more quickly the old
and harmful concepts and would promote a closer liaison between the scien-
tists and the people. I believe that following this drive for ideologic'.i
reform, s. new atmosphere will appear in the academy and the work of thr acad-
emy will radually be directed along the correct road.
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