Letter to Nikolai Gorbunov, September 29, 1921

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29.IX.1921

Comrade Gorbunov:

There is no doubt about the importance of the matter set out in the enclosed documents.

I feel that our press—Belyakov’s articles in Izvestia, Sosnovsky’s in Pravda, and a number of other articles and reports—has fully clarified and proved that a number of state farms of the Central Agricultural Administration have been working on model lines. The outstanding work done by Comrade Runov, who is at the head of this endeavour, is also reported by Comrade Muralov, a competent man. The successful development of a truly proletarian agriculture is of tremendous importance in principle.

It is as, or perhaps even more, important in practical terms.

That is why I ask you urgently to prepare this matter for the Narrow CPC today (bank-notes) and for the CLD, tomorrow (enter on the agenda, make all the necessary inquiries by phone, etc.).[1]

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Chairman, CPC

P.S. If nothing else can be done, let them have what they ask (to the maximum amount) on loan for a year. These people have deserved our confidence many times over.

Lenin


29.IX.1921

Comrade Gorbunov:

This business of Kara-Bugaz must be clarified. If you are too busy, you may put this off for a few days, but not more.

Lacis insists in Pravda of 29.IX that it is a “Gold Mine”.[2] Take at the CPC Secretariat my recent correspondence[3] with Professor Ipatiev (member of the SEC Collegium), a specialist and the head of our chemical industry.

His answer to me was: can’t be started at present.

Is it the Central Salt Administration that is making a mistake or someone else?

Do you think that we should take a look at the Administration’s data to see how solid they are, or do something else?

Find out and let me know.

Lenin

  1. ↑ The register of Lenin’s CPC and CLD assignments contains the following entry dated September 29, 1921: “Urgently get through the CLD the draft decision on land improvement work on state farms in Moscow Gubernia (L. S. Sosnovsky’s letter to Vladimir Ilyich). Fulfilled September 30 (see CLD Minutes No. 254, § 9)” (Istorichesky Arkhiv No. 5, 1901, p. 43).
    On a report by T. A. Runov, Chief of the Glavzemkhoz (see Note 619), the CLD decided on September 30, 1921, to allocate the money arid food required for these land improvement operations on state farms near Moscow; instructions were also issued for the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture to allocate tractors for ploughing up grubbed areas.
  2. ↑ The article by M. I. Lacis, Chairman of the Central Salt Administration, entitled “A Gold Mine”, spoke of the importance of Kara-Bugaz, which could yield Glauber’s salt as a major export item. He estimated that it would take 1,500 million rubles in capital investment which would be speedily recouped.
  3. ↑ See Document 321 of this volume.—Ed.