Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Circular concerning the Transfer of Cadres and Workers to Participate in Atomic Energy Development Work (Excerpt)

Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Circular concerning the Transfer of Cadres and Workers to Participate in Atomic Energy Development Work (Excerpt)

23 April 1956

1. Over the past decade, countries around the world have been making rapid progress in the research and use of atomic energy. On the military front, in succession, the atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, atomic energy-propelled submarines, and so forth have appeared. On the peaceful use of atomic energy front, the successful construction of atomic energy electric generation plants has opened for humanity an immense new and yet difficult to assess source of power. The large-scale use of radioisotopes and radiation in industry, agriculture, medicine, scientific research, and so forth will immeasurably raise the standards of science and technology. In view of the situation described here, the Central Committee has decided to adopt a proactive policy with respect to the task of atomic energy research and development, and, moreover, with the help of the Soviet Union, to strive to close in on and catch up to the global advanced level within a relatively short period. Therefore, it is necessary to rapidly and comprehensively develop prospecting, mining and smelting work with respect to uranium and various types of specialty metals; and move forward on the production of various chemical materials, the production of various special machines and instruments, the planning and construction of an atomic piles and accelerators, and a whole string of new work in atomic energy research and the development of cadres.

2. At present, the most pressing need is for departments nationwide and at the center to transfer a batch of outstanding technical cadres and administrative cadres, as well as a certain quantity of technical workers and ordinary workers, to start immediately to study and work under the guidance of Soviet experts. To this end, the Central Committee has decided that, in addition to the need in 1956 for the State Planning Commission to assign 2,462 graduates of institutions of higher learning and 760 graduates of middle-level technical schools, it must also transfer from departments nationwide and at the center 1,895 cadres (including 819 technical cadres) and 5,055 workers to join in this work. The transferees referred to above must be in place in two tranches by this May and July.

3. (redacted)

The Central Committee believes that though at present there is a sense that there is a lack of sufficient cadres in many areas, and transferring such a large number of cadres will bring certain hardships, nevertheless, in order to quickly develop our nation’s atomic energy work, it is convinced that provincial and municipal party committee and party units in various departments will surely be able to overcome difficulties and accomplish this task.