V. I. Lenin

Note to N. P. Gorbunov and Proposals on the Question of the Co-Operatives {1}

Comrade Gorbunov, Readthis, make a note of it for yourself and forward it
immediately to Comrade Molotov for the members of the
Politbureau , then for Tsyurupa and Rykov .

Inmy opinion, the co-operatives are not the trade unions.

Theco-operatives should remain obligatory as regards membership.

Contributionsshould be voluntary. If our co-operatives will carry on
trade (and not play at publishing dailies in which idle chatter-mongers
engage in political twaddle, which everyone is fed up with), then trading
should yield an income. Those who make contributions will receive an
income.

Everybodyshould be a member of the co-operatives. We need this for the
future. I don’t see how this interferes with anything.

Sharesare voluntary. Those who have paid their contributions should
receive a share of the profit.

Conclusion:I think the matter should be postponed; it should not be
raised at this session.

18/111. Lenin

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Notes:
{1}
This document was written in connection with L. M. Khinchuk’s letter
dated March 17, 1922, asking Lenin for instructions whether or not the
question of voluntary principle of membership of the co-operatives should
be raised at the forthcoming Fifth Session of the Delegates’ Council of
Centrosoyuz. Lenin’s proposals were incorporated in the decision of the
Politbureau of May 12, 1922, “On Compulsory Membership, Voluntary
Contributions and Unity of Consumers’ Co-operatives”.