IV. The Basic Principles of the "Three Do's and Three Don'ts"

In the General Programme of the draft greater prominence is given to the question of upholding the basic principles of the "three do's and three don'ts" than in the Party Constitution adopted by the Tenth Congress.

"Practise Marxism, and not revisionism; unite, and don't split; be open and aboveboard, and don't intrigue and conspire" - these three basic principles put forward by Chairman Mao represent a significant development in his theory on Party building. They constitute a scientific summing-up of the experience of the major struggles between the two lines in our Party for the last 50 years, epitomize the basic content of these struggles and penetratingly expose the salient political features of all opportunists and revisionists. Chairman Mao time and again used these three basic principles to warn the "gang of four," expose them for what they were and pinpoint the essence of their problem. The gang refused to repent and obstinately persisted in practising revisionism, creating splits and carrying on intrigues and conspiracies in a futile attempt to usurp supreme power in the Party and state. The fact that we have won victory in the 11th struggle between the two lines eloquently proves that the basic principles of the "three do's and three don'ts" are a sharp weapon for identifying and defeating the capitalist-roaders in the Party. The whole Party and people must adhere to these three basic principles and keep a tenacious grip on this weapon.

Chairman Mao said, "Going against the tide is a Marxist-Leninist principle." Purposely creating confusion, the "gang of four" perverted this revolutionary principle and obliterated its class content. They exploited the slogan "Go against the tide" to whip up an anti-Party and anti-socialist adverse current for their criminal purpose of subverting the dictatorship of the proletariat and restoring capitalism. In face of this reactionary current whipped up by the "gang of four," many of our Party members and revolutionary cadres put the public interests above everything else and held fast to the Party's principles and, with indomitable courage, dared to struggle and dared to win, demonstrating the revolutionary boldness in daring to go against the tide advocated by Chairman Mao, which we must earnestly emulate and bring into full play.

By going against the tide Chairman Mao meant going against the adverse tide of revisionism, splittism and conspiracy. In this spirit the draft contains a revised version of the provision on going against the tide in the Party Constitution adopted by the Tenth Congress, stating explicitly, "They [all Party comrades] must have the revolutionary boldness in daring to go against any tide that runs counter to these three basic principles." The revolutionary boldness in daring to go against the tide demands that, no matter what the circumstances, we dare to adhere to the Marxist principles and withstand and repulse the evil winds and violent waves invoked by the revisionists. It demands that we constantly strengthen unity in the Party and overcome any tendency to engage in factional and splittist activities in the Party. It demands that we thoroughly expose and defeat all plotters and conspirators. Being open and aboveboard is a manifestation of the proletarian Party spirit whereas intriguing and conspiring necessarily means the betrayal of Marxism, the disruption of Party unity and the sabotage of the revolutionary cause of the proletariat. All Party comrades should wield this sharp weapon of the "three do's and three don'ts," distinguish between correct and erroneous tides, give free rein to the revolutionary boldness in daring to go against the tide and strive for the comprehensive and correct implementation of Chairman Mao's proletarian revolutionary line.