Notes on the Question of Mobilising Raw Material Resources

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The mobilisation of raw material resources was one of time main targets of the Soviet Republic’s economic policy in connection with the plan for rehabilitating industry. This question was discussed on February 18, 1921, at a meeting of the CPC’s Economic Commission chaired by Lenin. The commission set up a special body which was to have dealt in detail with the question of collecting raw materials. The notes published here were apparently made by Lenin during a meeting of the Raw Materials Commission on February 26, 1921. The question of raw material was further discussed at the CPC on March 1, 1921, and at a meeting of a special parity commission of the Supreme Economic Council and the Commissariat for Food. The draft decision concerning the collection of raw materials was endorsed by the CPC on April 7, 1921.

Meeting 26.11.1921

Raw Materials
Previously 1920 Yield was
Fibre:
cotton 725	thous. dessiatines	100	thous. dessiatines	12 m. poods	up to 22
flax 1.1	”	0.3	”	25.6		”
hemp 485	”	238	”	20		”
wool				6	”	(5)
	1920	Yield 1920
fibre
cotton	1.5 m. poods	0.9 m. poods
flax	2.9 poods	2.0 poods
hemp	4.5poods	1.3 poods
wool	2.5poods	1.5 poods
Hides: don’t know 28.5 m. poods 1920-21 assessment there was? 8,8 (30%) collected up to 1.11.1921
Furs 40 m. pelts-17.5 assessment (70% from Siberia (quota) incl. 30% nomads)—0.6 collected (=4%)
Turned over to the Food Commissariat in IX.1920, but it is messing up the business, unable to organise an exchange of goods with the nomads.
Needed:
	cotton wool flax hemp	20-24 m. poods 5 poods 12poods 15poods
	Σ= 56 m. p. of all textile raw materials
	Σ =5G m. p.
our crops can cover 21% of requirements

Stocks 14.8 m poods in warehouses (now 11.1921)

Measures (remedies) [The English word “remedies” is used by Lenin.—Editor]

1) freedom of local exchange of grain for flax, etc.;

2) principle of assessment stimulating the cultivator to increase his crops;

3) prohibit textile seeds from being processed for oil (now banned);

4) procure seeds from the population to increase cultivation {they are to be guaranteed a certain part of the yield;

5) premiums for improved processing;

6) ((organisational measure)) secure widest possible co-operation of the population in improving raw material (artels, associations, etc.);

7) stimulation for small processing factories. wool:

8) premiums to Kirghizes, at least 1 arshin of textiles per pood of wool

{

1.X.1920 it was handed over to Food Commissariat, which messed it up}