V. I.   Lenin

54

TELEGRAM TO THE SOVNARKOM OF THE PETROGRAD LABOUR COMMUNE^[1]

Published: First published in 1933 in Lenin Miscellany XXI. Printed from the original.
Source: Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1975, Moscow, Volume 44, page 72^b.
Translated: Clemens Dutt
Transcription\Markup: R. Cymbala
Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive.   You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work, as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source. • README

Governmental
Urgent
Report receipt

28. III. 1918

Sovnarkom of the Petrograd Labour Commune
Smolny, Petrograd
Copies to Shlyapnikov, Chairman of the Evacuation Commission, and to Gorbunov, Secretary of the C.P.C.

I have received Gorbunov’s memorandum. I strongly protest against the delay in the evacuation of industry.^[2] Larin and Milyutin have no right to alter the decision. If anyone is dissatisfied with my order, let him complain to the C.P.C. or C.E.C., but until my order is cancelled its fulfilment is obligatory. I am particularly indignant at the milliards’ worth of stores on Gutuyev Island being left untouched. That is disgraceful. The evacuation of these stores must be begun at all costs and carried out in the speediest manner.^[3] The Sovnarkom to send in twice weekly precise reports on what has actually been done for the evacuation and how many truck-loads have been evacuated.

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

Notes

[1] The Sovnarkom (Council of People’s Commissars) of the Petrograd Labour Commune was set up by a decision of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies on March 11, 1918, owing to the Soviet Government being transferred from Petrograd to Moscow.

At the end of April 1918, the Congress of Soviets of the Northern Region established, for military and economic purposes, a Union of Communes of the Northern Region, which included also Petrograd Gubernia. On February 24, 1919, by a decision of the Third Congress of Soviets of the Northern Region, the Union of Communes of the Northern Region and the Sovnarkom which headed it, were abolished.

[2] This refers to the evacuation of industrial enterprises from Petrograd. The question was raised in connection with the advance of the German troops on Petrograd.

[3] The city Customs House was on Gutuyev Island in Petrograd. During April–June 1918, 1,180 truck-loads of various goods were evacuated from the Gutuyev Customs House.