V. I.

Lenin

196

To:   V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov:

Please have a look at the enclosed letter from -6 Shklovsky.

I believe there is a C.C. decision—isn’t there? a formal
one in writing (Politbureau)—“to work at the People’s
Commissariat for Foreign Trade in Berlin”.

This decision is being sabotaged by Lutovinov and now by Stomonyakov as well. Why? I don’t know for sure, but
I can guess: Lutovinov has accused Lenin of extending “patronage” to Shklovsky (!!). Some people are dissatisfied
with the fact that the Orgbureau decision preventing
Shklovsky from going abroad has been cancelled by the
Politbureau. [1]

An absurd web of intrigue has taken shape. Shklovsky is absolutely of no use in Russia. His family (many children,
a sick wife) has not adjusted in Russia. Over here it’s
nothing but fret and worry. He is undoubtedly an honest man,
a Bolshevik since the first (1905) revolution; Zinoviev,
all the Bolsheviks and I knew him personally in
Switzerland. Chicherin is satisfied with his work abroad. Krasin
too.

The sabotage by Lutovinov (and now by Stomonyakov)
is a downright scandalous wrecking of the C.C. decision.
When one is dissatisfied, one should lodge a complaint with
the plenary meeting or with the Central Control Commission.
That is one’s sacred right. They have failed to lodge a
complaint, but have engaged in secret sabotage , pushing
Shklovsky close to thoughts of suicide. They refuse to see
that this amounts to mean, dishonest, underhand harassment of the man.

There are thieves all over the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade; Kopp has clearly been breeding thieves.
It looks as if Kopp has to be removed. That makes it all
the more important to value honest men with a knowledge
of the language and of commerce.

I ask you to seriously bring home to Stomonyakov (better in writing?) either through the C.C. Secretariat (or— more appropriate perhaps?—by sending to Soils at the
C.C.C.) the following: stop your sabotage or it may come
to your expulsion from the Party. Make him apologise to
Shklovsky, and stop the sabotage.

Drop me a line.

With communist greetings, Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
On February 2, 1921, the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) Central

Committee gave G. L. Shklovsky permission to find work abroad, by agreement with L. B. Krasin and G. V. Chicherin, thereby countermanding the Orgbureau’s decision of January 21, under which Shklovsky was invited to look for work in Moscow or the

Crimea.