Letter to Georgy Chicherin, October 24, 1921

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This was written on G. V. Chicherin’s letter, setting out the news dispatch by the American correspondent to the effect that foreign capitalists were unwilling to take out concessions in Soviet Russia because of the stubborn rumours that the Soviet Government would shortly return to foreign businessmen full title in their old factories. Chicherin proposed a denial of these rumours.

On the document is also Lenin’s note: “Why did you send me The Times of 12.IX?”

Comrade Chicherin:

I think that the Government should not, must not deny such silly rumours. The thing to do is to give them to the press and to ridicule, make a laughing-stock of those who believe these rumours and circulate them. This is blackmail on the part of the Urquharts and the Curzons: such rumours are designed to hamper agreement at present. This is patent blackmail.

24/X.

With communist greetings,

Lenin