V. I. Lenin

Letter To J. V. Stalin

For Members of The C.C., R.C.P.(B.)

I have now finished winding up my affairs and can leave with my mind at
peace. [1] I have also come to an agreement with Trotsky on
the defence of my views on the monopoly of foreign trade. Only one
circumstance still worries me very much; it is that it will be impossible
for me to speak at the Congress of Soviets. [2] My doctors are coming on
Tuesday and we shall see if there is even a small chance of my speaking. I
would consider it a great inconvenience to miss the opportunity of speaking,
to say the least. I finished preparing the summary a few days ago. I
therefore propose that the writing of a report which somebody will deliver
should go ahead and that the possibility be left open until Wednesday that I
will perhaps personally make a speech, a much shorter one than usual, for
example, one that will take three-quarters of an hour. Such a speech would
in no way hinder the speech of my deputy (whoever you may appoint for this
purpose), but would be useful politically and from the personal angle as it
would eliminate cause for great anxiety. Please have this in mind, and if
the opening of the Congress is delayed, inform me in good time through my
secretary. [3]

Lenin

December 15, 1922

I am emphatically against any procrastination of the question of the
monopoly of foreign trade. If any circumstance (including the circumstance
that my participation is desirable in the debate over this question) gives
rise to the idea to postpone it to the next Plenary Meeting, I would most
emphatically be against it because, firstly, I am sure Trotsky will uphold
my views as well as I; secondly, the statements that you, Zinoviev and,
according to rumours, Kamenev have made prove that some members of the
C.C. have already changed their minds; thirdly, and most important, any
further vacillation over this extremely important question is absolutely
impermissible and will wreck all our work.

Lenin

December 15, 1922

Endnotes

[1] When
Lenin’s health deteriorated his doctors ordered him to move to Gorki,
a suburb of Moscow.

[2] The Tenth
All-Russia Congress of Soviets, which opened in Moscow on December 23,
1922. It was attended by 2,215 delegates, of whom 488 were representatives
from the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist
Republic. Lenin was elected honorary chairman. A message of greetings to
Lenin was adopted amidst stormy applause and the singing of The Internationale.

The Congress discussed the report of the All-Russia
Central Executive Committee and the Council of People’s Commissars on
the home and foreign policy of the Soviet Republic, and also the reports of
the Supreme Economic Council, the People’s Commissariat of Education,
the People’s Commissariat of Finance and the People’s
Commissariat of Agriculture. Fully endorsing the work of the Soviet
Government, the Congress passed decisions mapping out a series of measures
aimed at further promoting industry, agriculture and finances. On December
26 the Congress heard a report on the unification of the Soviet republics,
and on the next day, at its last sitting, it passed a decision on this
question, finding it necessary to form the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics.

Moreover, the Congress adopted an address to all the peoples of the world, in which on behalf of the workers and peasants of
Russia it solemnly reaffirmed its desire for peace and called upon the
working people of all countries to combine their efforts with those of the
peoples of the Soviet Union in order to secure peace and save mankind from
monstrous wars of extermination.

[3] Due to a
further deterioration of his health, Lenin was unable to attend the Tenth
All-Russia Congress of Soviets.