## 498G

NOTES ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION AND ITS WORK

April 20, 1920

Commission for the Investigation and Assessment of the Impact of War and Blockade on the Russian Economy ((established March 24, 1920 at the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade, telephone 2-54-46)).

5 persons + 12 specialists + 15 technical personnel.

1) Supplement representation further ((+ Supreme Council of the National Economy (Strumilin) + Forestry Service + Central Statistical Bureau + Foreign Trade + People's Commissariat of Railways + State Control (+ People's Commissariat of Agriculture?) )).

2) 100 rations for 4 months.

3) 1 automobile.

4) Secret data (a) financial [under personal responsibility.
                 (b) military [

POWERS GRANTED TO M. M. LITVINOV

March 25, 1920

43980

The Council of People's Commissars of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic appoints Maxim Maximovich Litvinov, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, as its plenipotentiary for the resolution of all questions connected with the forthcoming resumption of trade relations, with all necessary powers for this, including—the right to conduct on all the aforementioned questions negotiations on behalf of the Government of the Russian Republic, to conclude all manner of agreements and treaties with the inclusion of


all conditions and guarantees which he deems necessary and acceptable for the Russian Republic, to issue all manner of obligations, to carry out all without exception commercial, banking, financial, and currency operations, everywhere and in all respects safeguarding the interests of the Russian Republic by all lawful means.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

43981

Maxim Maximovich Litvinov, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, is hereby empowered by the Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic to conduct preliminary negotiations with representatives of the Governments of England, America, Belgium, Italy, France, and Japan, on the one hand, regarding possible conditions of peace between Russia and the aforementioned powers, on the other. The Government of the RSFSR requests that all declarations by M. M. Litvinov, member of the collegium, be believed and regarded as declarations made on behalf of the Government of the RSFSR.

M. M. Litvinov, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, is empowered to negotiate and sign an agreement concerning the time, place, and preliminary conditions for Russia's entry into peace negotiations with the Governments of England, America, Belgium, Italy, France, and Japan.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.