Inquiry of the CPC to The CC of the Left SR Party

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On January 11(24), 1918, the CPC, on the motion of I. Z. Steinberg, People’s Commissar for Justice, instituted an investigation into the activities of the Committee of Inquiry under the Petrograd Soviet, and suspended this Committee pending the results of the investigation. On January 14 (27) the CPC examined the statement of the chairmen of the Committee of Inquiry M. Y. Kozlovsky and P. A. Krasikov asking the CPC to recon- sider its decision, and ordered the Inspection Commission set up by it to submit the results of its investigation within forty-eight hours. It also passed a decision to send an inquiry to the CC of the Left Socialist-Revolutionary Party concerning the resolution of the Petrograd Committee of the Left S.R.s to the effect that it would not be represented on the Committee of Inquiry. It was in connection with this resolution that Lenin wrote his inquiry. The findings of the commission investigating the activities of the Committee of Inquiry were discussed at meetings of the CPC On January 21 (February 3) the CPC adopted the draft decree written by Lenin (see pp. 55-56 of this volume); on February 26 the C,P.C. found that “all accusations of bribery and other crimes or improper conduct against the leading members of the Committee of Inquiry are without foundation” and considered the investiga tion into the activities of the Committee of Inquiry to be closed, and its leading members Krasikov, Kozlovsky, Lindeman, Mitzgendler and Rozin to be reinstated in their posts (Decrees of the Soviet Government, Vol. 1, Moscow, 1957, p. 499; see also p. 62 of this volume).

Following the decision of the Council of People’s Commissars dated 14.1 (night)-extract from the journal is herewith enclosed-we ask the CC of the Left Socialist-Revolutionary Party to answer the following questions:

1) When did the Petrograd Committee of the Left S.R.s pass its resolution refusing to have any members on the staff of the Committee of Inquiry so long as Kozlovsky was on it?

2) What is the text of that resolution?

3) Was the CC of the Left S,R. Party aware of this resolution and was it commented on in the CC of the Left S.R.s?

4) When and by whom (of the Left S.R.s) in the Petrograd Soviet or its Executive Committee was it reported that the Left SR.s would not join the Committee of Inquiry so. long as Kozlovsky was on it?

5) Did the Left S;R.s carry out, the decision of the Petrograd Soviet, which asked them to present evidence against Kozlovsky within a definite period?