Written: Written in June, not before the 4th, 1921
Published:
First published in 1965 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 52.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
1976,
Moscow,
Volume 45,
pages 175-176a.
Translated: Yuri Sdobnikov
Transcription\Markup:
R. Cymbala
Public Domain:
Lenin Internet Archive
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• README
Comrade Molotov:
Please have a look at the enclosed letter from -6 Shklovsky.
I believe there is a C.C. decision—isn’t there? a formal one in writing (Politbureau)—“to work at the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade in Berlin”.
This decision is being sabotaged by Lutovinov and now by Stomonyakov as well. Why? I don’t know for sure, but I can guess: Lutovinov has accused Lenin of extending “patronage” to Shklovsky (!!). Some people are dissatisfied with the fact that the Orgbureau decision preventing Shklovsky from going abroad has been cancelled by the Politbureau.[1]
An absurd web of intrigue has taken shape. Shklovsky is absolutely of no use in Russia. His family (many children, a sick wife) has not adjusted in Russia. Over here it’s nothing but fret and worry. He is undoubtedly an honest man, a Bolshevik since the first (1905) revolution; Zinoviev, all the Bolsheviks and I knew him personally in Switzerland. Chicherin is satisfied with his work abroad. Krasin too.
The sabotage by Lutovinov (and now by Stomonyakov) is a downright scandalous wrecking of the C.C. decision. When one is dissatisfied, one should lodge a complaint with the plenary meeting or with the Central Control Commission. That is one’s sacred right. They have failed to lodge a complaint, but have engaged in secret sabotage, pushing Shklovsky close to thoughts of suicide. They refuse to see that this amounts to mean, dishonest, underhand harassment of the man.
There are thieves all over the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade; Kopp has clearly been breeding thieves. It looks as if Kopp has to be removed. That makes it all the more important to value honest men with a knowledge of the language and of commerce.
I ask you to seriously bring home to Stomonyakov (better in writing?) either through the C.C. Secretariat (or— more appropriate perhaps?—by sending to Soils at the C.C.C.) the following: stop your sabotage or it may come to your expulsion from the Party. Make him apologise to Shklovsky, and stop the sabotage.
Drop me a line.
With communist greetings,
Lenin
[1] On February 2, 1921, the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) Central Committee gave G. L. Shklovsky permission to find work abroad, by agreement with L. B. Krasin and G. V. Chicherin, thereby countermanding the Orgbureau’s decision of January 21, under which Shklovsky was invited to look for work in Moscow or the Crimea.
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