Plans for the Report “FIVE YEARS OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AND THE PROSPECTS OF THE WORLD REVOLUTION” AT THE IV CONGRESS OF THE COMMINTERN*
1. Not a formal rapporteur—merely a brief introduction to the ensuing debate (due to illness, etc.).

2. Topic: Has the NEP stood the test of experience? In favor of it—or against it?

3. The question of “state capitalism” was first broached as early as 1918.

4. Quote from Brochure 221. \Page 5.| || [“State capitalism would be progress.”|

5. Quote: “The Five Elements of the Russian Economy.”

6. Quote: Which of these elements predominates?

7. What, then, is the plan—or the idea, or the very essence—of the NEP?

a) Preservation of land in the hands of the state
?) Likewise, all commanding heights in the realm of the means of production (transport, and so forth)

?) Freedom of trade in the sphere of small-scale production
?) State capitalism in the sense of attracting private capital (through concessions and mixed enterprises).

* See this volume, pp. 278–294. Ed.

8. In the end, this yielded one result: by 1918, retreat had been secured.

9. For five years we were on our own; revolutions in other countries had yet to break out;
war and famine loomed. Were we doomed to perish?

10. A little retreat—and then retreat again. So what was the outcome?

11. From spring 1921 through autumn 1922: what were the results?

12. The ruble—its stabilization took less than three months in 1921,
and over five months in 1922.
We were pulling ourselves up, alone, without external assistance,
/^Quadrillions? Yes—but let’s strike those zeros!|
V It wouldn’t take long. U

13. The peasantry? Tax in kind—successful collection; hundreds of millions collected.

14. Light industry? A general upturn!

15. Heavy industry?
The situation remained extremely difficult.
The turning point came in 1921–1922, bringing some improvement—but the gains were very modest
(Government Bank revenues: 20 million in gold, enough to provide some relief).

16. Conclusion: success is possible; indeed, success is already evident.
The system is neither arbitrary nor chaotic—it has been practically tested.
We are making our way forward alone, without foreign aid.

17. The challenges remain immense; several more years lie ahead.
There are plenty of foolish mistakes—but that is only to be expected. After all, this is a new path.
No outside help, quite the contrary.
The apparatus belongs to others. Our own foolishness yields 2 × 2 = 5; their foolishness, however, produces 2 × 2 = a stearin candle.
1) Kolchak II
2) The Treaty of Versailles

PLANS FOR THE REPORT TO THE IV CONGRESS OF THE COMMINTERN
18. Therefore,
the prospects are excellent—and they will become even better if,
going forward, we take the next five-year period as a crucial opportunity to learn from both the Communist International and from the resolutions on party organizational structure (adopted in 1921), for the resolutions concerning organizational development… the prospects will only grow brighter.
Title:
“On the Organizational Development of Communist Parties”
“On the Methods and Content of Their Work”
Organizational Structure of Communist Parties, Methods and Content of Their Work. Speech delivered on April 13, 1922, at the Comintern.
Written in November, prior to April 13, 1922.
First published on January 21

Printed from manuscript

1926, in Pravda, No. 17
The Fifth Anniversary of the Russian Revolution and the Prospects of World Revolution
Dictatorships
Five years—through Vladivostok in 1922—of struggle, war, and famine.
Only now did peaceful construction begin.
“The NEP.”
The peasantry and its relationship to the state (tax in kind collection in 1922)
industry, and its nascent upswing

* Beginning with the word “Title,” the text was crossed out by V. I. Lenin. Ed.

a) Consumer goods

b) Means of production (heavy industry)
G The beginning??' [ Difficult—Wild hatred at the outset (the course of struggle; victory)
destruction now. War casualties.
to learn unrelated to what came before! We were still on our own. Low living standards, poverty—two enduring connections
Who will lead? (the peasantry) the bourgeoisie or the proletariat? Exile abroad—as if to “spread them out”…
, 223
Two Russias.
Other countries
3
1. No rapporteur. (Illness.)
Only a brief introduction, focused on a single topic: Did the New Economic Policy yield good results, bad results, or uncertain outcomes?
2. Was the “New Economic Policy” entirely unforeseen and unprepared, or had it been envisioned earlier?
3. My explanation from 1918 || (p. 5)
(First quotation).
4. Second quotation: p. 6: Five elements.
5. Which element prevails? (Quote) (p. 6.)

PLANS FOR THE REPORT TO THE IV CONGRESS OF THE COMMINTERN
6. So then? “New Economic Policy” =
1) Commanding heights in our hands
2) Land and soil belong to the state
3) Freedom of economic activity for the peasants
4) Large-scale industry (and large-scale agriculture) in our hands
5) Private capitalism—allowing for competition against
state capitalism
6) State capitalism designed in such a way that we can attract private capital, pooling it with our own capital.
Three main points, in practice
{{ State capitalism } =
7. It was not intentionally crafted, but the result of these deliberations was this:
Retreat secured.
Y (1) Freedom of trade for smallholders (2) All commanding heights (large-scale agriculture and
JJ large-scale industry) in our hands (3) Mixed “companies”—a “guarantee of learning.”
v. V
8. The outcome? The “New Economic Policy” was introduced in early 1921.
By the end of 1922? Let us compare.
9. The ruble? In 1921, it remained stable for three months,
but by 1922, it had stabilized for over five months.
(Just strike the superfluous zeros.)
NB
10. The peasantry? Already at the level of yMill. Pud.

11. Light industry—booming everywhere.
Heavy industry:
(1) The situation remains severe.
(2) A slight improvement compared to 1921.
(3) The resources are there to continue providing support (20 million rubles in gold, held by the State Bank).
12. Monopoly over foreign trade.
13. ??—The first successes are in sight.
So far, no debts have been incurred, no payments made, and no serious concessions have been granted.
14. That is sufficient for me.
The new system is neither arbitrary nor chaotic; it is not an “invention,” a “utopia,” or anything of the sort—it has been practically tested.
15. Are there still enormous difficulties? Absolutely correct.
Are there countless foolish mistakes? Quite right.
But what is the nature, the character, of these foolish errors?
Ours? Or those of our adversaries? 2 × 2 = 5; 2 × 2 yields a stearin candle.
{
2 proofs: Kolchak? The Treaty of Versailles J
16. Precisely for this reason, the prospects for world revolution are outstanding.
Even better—if we continue to learn (and I guarantee this to you) /^State apparatus^
\^ Foreign JJ For the Communist International?
Resolutions unread, unfulfillable.
If that changes, then in that same sense, the prospects will also be outstanding.

PLANS FOR THE REPORT TO THE IV CONGRESS OF THE COMMINTERN
TRANSLATION

1. No rapporteur (due to illness).
Only a brief introduction, focused on a single topic: Did the New Economic Policy bring about good results, bad results, or merely uncertain outcomes?

2. Was the “New Economic Policy” entirely unforeseen and unprepared for, or had it been anticipated well in advance?

3. My statement in 1918 || (p. 5)
(The first quotation.)

4. The second quotation: p. 6 – five elements.

5. Which element predominates? (Quotation) (p. 6).

6. So then? The “New Economic Policy” =
1) The commanding heights are in our hands
2) Land is under state control
3) Freedom of economic activity for the peasantry
4) Large-scale industry (and large-scale agriculture) are in our hands
5) Private capitalism—such that it can compete with state capitalism
6) State capitalism of a kind that enables us to attract private capital alongside our own.

Practically speaking, three main points
{state capitalism} =

7. This was not done deliberately; yet the result of these pronouncements was precisely this: retreat was secured.
7(1) Freedom of trade in the realm of small-scale production.
(2) All the commanding heights—large-scale agriculture and heavy industry—are in our hands.
(3) Mixed “societies”—a “guarantee of learning”·

8. The outcome? In the spring of 1921, the “New Economic Policy” was introduced.
By the end of 1922? Let us compare.

9. The ruble? In 1921 it remained stable for less than three months;
in 1922 it remained stable for more than five months (the superfluous zeros must be erased). NB

10. The peasantry? Already now—millions of poods.

11. Light industry: a general upturn.
Heavy industry:
(1) The situation remains difficult.
(2) There has been only a slight improvement compared to 1921.
(3) The means to provide further assistance are already at hand—20 million rubles in gold, held by the State Bank.

12. Monopoly over foreign trade.

13. ?? = The first success on the ground.
So far, no debts have been incurred; nothing has been paid out;
not a single concession of any real significance has been granted.

14. For me, this is sufficient.
The new system is neither arbitrary nor chaotic; it is not a mere “invention,” nor a “utopia,” etc.;
it has been tested in practice.

15. Are there still enormous difficulties? Absolutely correct!
Are there countless absurdities? Entirely true.
But what is the nature, the character, of those absurdities—ours, or those of our adversaries?

* - Summa summarum—the overall conclusion. Ed.

PLANS FOR THE REPORT TO THE IV CONGRESS OF THE COMMINTERN
2x2 = 5
2x2 equals a stearin candle
{
Two proofs: Kolchak and the Treaty of Versailles. 16. It is precisely for this reason that the prospects for world revolution are excellent. They will become even better if we continue to learn—and I guarantee this to you//state\\
^foreign apparatus JJ For the Communist International? The resolution is unreadable, impossible to implement.
If we rectify this, then in this respect as well—will the prospects be truly—?
excellent.
Written in November, prior to the 13th of 1922.
First published in 1959 in the journal “Questions of the History of the CPSU,” No. 2.

Printed from manuscript