V. I.

Lenin

54

TELEGRAM TO THE SOVNARKOM OF THE PETROGRAD LABOUR COMMUNE [1]

Governmental
Urgent
Report receipt

28. III. 1918

Sovnarkom of the Petrograd Labour Commune
Smolny, Petrograd
Copies to Shlyapnikov, Chairman of the Evacuation
Commission, and to Gorbunov, Secretary of the C.P.C.

I have received Gorbunov’s memorandum. I strongly protest against the delay in the evacuation of
industry. [2]
Larin and Milyutin have no right to alter the decision.
If anyone is dissatisfied with my order, let him complain
to the C.P.C. or C.E.C., but until my order is cancelled
its fulfilment is obligatory. I am particularly indignant at
the milliards’ worth of stores on Gutuyev Island being left
untouched. That is disgraceful. The evacuation of these stores
must be begun at all costs and carried out in the speediest
manner. [3] The Sovnarkom to send in twice weekly precise
reports on what has actually been done for the evacuation
and how many truck-loads have been evacuated.

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

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Notes:
[1]
The Sovnarkom (Council of People’s Commissars) of the Petrograd Labour Commune was set up by a decision of the Petrograd Soviet
of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies on March 11, 1918, owing to
the Soviet Government being transferred from Petrograd to
Moscow.

At the end of April 1918, the Congress of Soviets of the
Northern Region established, for military and economic purposes,
a Union of Communes of the Northern Region, which included
also Petrograd Gubernia. On February 24, 1919, by a decision
of the Third Congress of Soviets of the Northern Region, the Union
of Communes of the Northern Region and the Sovnarkom which
headed it, were abolished.

[2]
This refers to the evacuation of industrial enterprises from
Petrograd. The question was raised in connection with the advance
of the German troops on Petrograd.

[3]
The city Customs House was on Gutuyev Island in Petrograd.
During April–June 1918, 1,180 truck-loads of various goods were
evacuated from the Gutuyev Customs House.