Written: Written on May 2, 1922
Published:
First published in 1964 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 45.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
1976,
Moscow,
Volume 45,
pages 537b-538a.
Translated: Yuri Sdobnikov
Transcription\Markup:
R. Cymbala
Public Domain:
Lenin Internet Archive
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In view of the unprecedentedly disgraceful and dangerous hesitations of Chicherin and Litvinov (to say nothing of Krasin) I propose this castigation.
My draft:
“We highly regret that both Chicherin and Litvinov in part have slid down to Krasin’s absurdities. In view of such hesitations we order the delegation to break unconditionally and as soon as possible, clearly and precisely motivating it by the refusal to restore private property, and to declare that we agreed to make partial concessions only on condition of a very advantageous and immediate loan, unconditionally insisting on a treaty between two systems of property, as between equals. (In the event of the slightest further hesitations we shall disavow you publicly in the Central Executive Committee and dismiss you from your office.) Litvinov’s open telegram clearly shows that they want to fool us.”
Lenin. 2/V
I do not agree with Stalin’s amendment to delete the threat of disavowal. Lenin
Comrade Stalin:
I propose another addition to the telegram to Genoa:
A session of the All-Russia C.E.C. has been set for May 12. By then, at least three members of the delegation must be in Moscow with all the material. Chicherin is to stay in Germany and complete his treatment.[2]
Lenin. 2/V
[1] This was written in connection with the receipt from Genoa of a number of communications which aroused the fear that in their talks with the Allied powers Chicherin and Litvinov might make concessions not provided for in the C.C. directives.
[2] On May 2, 1922, the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) C.C. discussed this proposal. It adopted the following amendments motioned by Stalin to the draft telegram introduced by Lenin: 1) delete the sentence about disavowal; = 2) end the telegram with these words: “The C.C. categorically demands fulfilment of this directive.” On Stalin’s motion, the word “absurdities” in the first sentence was replaced by the word “mistakes”. The Politbureau adopted the addition to the telegram without any changes.
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