Letter to Valerian Obolensky, Between December 14 and 18, 1921

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A reference to N. Osinsky’s letter of December 14, 1921, connected with the conflict in the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture (see this volume, Document 506).

Comrade Osinsky:

I have read and reread your letter with all possible attention. I resolutely disagree, and cannot bring it up at the Politbureau. It is, of course, your unquestionable right to bring it up at the plenum.

You have not a shred, literally not a shred, of businesslike and organisational arguments.

You have made a mistake by insisting on Muralov’s removal, seeing an “intrigue” where there was not a bit of it. But in order to direct such a People’s Commissariat, as the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture, and to do it in such dreadfully difficult conditions, one must not see “intrigues” or “counter-weights” in those who take a different view of matters or have a different approach, but must value independent-minded men. You must try out the trio in practice: you + a peasant (we do not yet know who and what kind of man he will be) + Teodorovich. There must be no haste to change it before it has come to life. Your priority influence is assured by the law and by many other things.

I have seen Mesyatsev at the CLD and the CPC, but very little. No one can prevent him from attending (and voting) if neither you nor Teodorovich is there. This could be formalised in a couple of minutes.

But there is no reason to change the Politbureau decision. It must be tried out; it is organisationally correct.

With communist greetings,

Lenin

Written between December 14 and 18, 1921