Date: 1921-05-19
Source: ru:ND

Comrade Molotov!

Were there not any responsible officials? It is absolutely essential to designate such officials without fail—so that we know precisely whom to reprimand and whom to arrest. Only in this way can we truly get things done.

I propose: 1) To formally appoint the responsible officials forthwith,

to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to implementation,

and to assign the Secretariat of the Central Committee to receive reports from the responsible officials on implementation—once a week.

19/V.

Lenin.

Particularly crucial are the officials tasked with the distribution of food supplies. If you do not already know who these officials are, then by tomorrow, compel the People’s Commissariat for Food Supplies to identify them.

Fund 2, Inventory 1, File 24546, Page 1 – autograph.

1* Further down, V.I. Lenin crossed out: “through”

1The note penned by V.I. Lenin was written on the reverse side of a memorandum from N.A. Semashko: “14/V. To Comrade Lenin. Comrade Trotsky’s health has once again deteriorated. I have convened a consultative panel consisting of the doctors and professors listed here.

As is evident, there are two primary factors contributing to the exacerbation of his illness: first, overexertion; second, failure to adhere to the prescribed diet. I earnestly request that you issue the strictest possible order to ensure that Comrade Trotsky receives the foodstuffs as prescribed by his physicians—and that the Central Committee’s resolution on this matter be carried out to the letter. N. Semashko.” To his own note, Semashko appended the joint medical opinion of Doctors D.D. Pletnev, F.A. Getye, and L.S. Minora: “L.D. Trotsky suffers from chronic colitis. There may be some morphological irregularities in the large intestine. A radiographic examination of the intestines is necessary to resolve this question. The fainting spells are of a vasospastic nature, arising reflexively from the intestinal tract—or perhaps even independently, i.e., as spasms of the vessels with a psychogenic origin (due to overexertion). A trip to the Caucasus in the latter half of summer is highly advisable (Kislovodsk–Essentuki).” To the physicians’ conclusion, Semashko added: “Comrade Trotsky is not adhering to his prescribed diet due to a lack of food supplies. Meanwhile, he requires a strict dietary regimen—chicken, butter, white flour.” N. Semashko. On the reverse side of the physicians’ report, Lenin wrote: “To be preserved.” (RGASPI, Fund 2, Inventory 1, File 24546, Page 2.)

The aforementioned resolution of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) concerning Trotsky was adopted on April 23, 1921: “Order Comrade Trotsky to depart for sanatorium treatment, selecting both the location and duration of his stay in accordance with the physicians’ recommendations. Oversight of the implementation of this resolution with regard to Comrade Trotsky shall be entrusted to Comrade Dzerzhinsky” (RGASPI, Fund 17, Inventory 3, File 154, Page 2).

2Lenin’s note bears the annotation: “Comrade Molchanov is authorized to act on behalf of the responsible official, Comrade Trotsky.”