Re Draft Decree on the Organisation and Supply of the Village Poor

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These proposals of Lenin’s were written apparently at a meeting of the Council of People’s Commissars on June 8, 1918, when the draft was under consideration. The draft decree was adopted with substantial amendments. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee endorsed the decree on June 11 and Izvestia published it on June 16, 1918 (see Decrees of the Soviet Government, Vol. II, Moscow, 1959, pp. 412-19). The Committees of Poor Peasants were instituted by this decree. An appraisal of them was given by Lenin in his speech at the First All-Russia Congress of Land Departments, Poor Peasants’ Committees and Communes on December 11, 1918 (see present edition, Volume 28, p. 338).

For the purpose of general guidance in the formation, composition and activities of the Committees of Poor Peasants a permanent council is instituted consisting of two representatives from the Commissariat for Food and one representative from the Commissariat for Agriculture.

All local Soviets, food supply agencies and Committees of Poor Peasants, as well as all other Soviet bodies obey the orders of this council on pertinent matters.

…shall be enjoyed by all without restriction, both by local villagers and newcomers, who do not have surpluses of grain or other food products, do not possess trade, industrial or other establishments and do not employ farmhands or day-labourers.

Detailed rules on the relations between the Committees of Poor Peasants and the local Soviets and on the distribution of departmental functions between the two will be issued specially.