Page 35 - SELECTED WORKS OF MAO TSE-TUNG Volume III.indd

SPEECH AT THE BORDER REGION ASSEMBLY 33
endeavour of resistance to Japan. This is what we call the policy of
New Democracy. It is the kind of policy that really suits the condi-
tions in present-day China, and we hope that its application will not
be limited to the Shensi-Kansu-Ningsia Border Region, or to the
anti-Japanese base areas in the rear of the enemy, but will spread
throughout the country.
We have pursued this policy with success and have won the
approval of the people all over China. But there have also been
shortcomings. Some Communists still do not know how to co-operate
with non-Party people in a democratic way and have an exclusive,
“closed-door” or sectarian style of work; they still do not understand
the basic principle that Communists are in duty bound to co-operate
with people outside the Party who are against Japan, and have no
right to shut them out. This principle means that we should listen
attentively to the views of the masses, keep in close touch with them
and not become alienated from them. There is an article in the
Administrative Programme of the Shensi-Kansu-Ningsia Border Re-
gion which stipulates that Communists should co-operate democrat-
ically with non-Party people and must not act arbitrarily or keep
everything in their own hands. It is directed precisely at the comrades
who still fail to understand the Party’s policy. Communists must
listen attentively to the views of people outside the Party and let
them have their say. If what they say is right, we ought to welcome
it, and we should learn from their strong points; if it is wrong, we
should let them finish what they are saying and then patiently explain
things to them. A Communist must never be opinionated or dom-
ineering, or think that he is good in everything while others are
good in nothing; he must never shut himself up in his little room,
or brag and boast and lord it over others. Apart from the die-hard
reactionaries who are in league with the Japanese aggressors and with
the traitors and are sabotaging resistance and unity, and who of
course have no right to speak, everyone is entitled to freedom of
speech, and it does not matter even if what he says is wrong. Affairs
of state are the public affairs of the whole nation and not the private
affairs of a single party or group. Hence Communists have the duty
to co-operate democratically with non-Party people and have no
right to exclude them and monopolize everything. The Communist
Party is a political party which works in the interests of the nation
and people and which has absolutely no private ends to pursue. It
should be supervised by the people and must never go against their