FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

30. III. 1922

Comrade Molotov, for members of the Politburo

I have spoken with Krasnoshchekov. I see that we, the Politburo, have made a major mistake.

A man who is undoubtedly intelligent, energetic, knowledgeable, and experienced—we have harassed him and brought him to such a state that people are capable of abandoning everything and fleeing wherever their eyes lead them.

He knows all languages, English excellently. Has been in the movement since 1896. Spent 15 years in America. Started as a painter. Was a school director. Knows commerce. Proved himself an intelligent chairman of the government in the FER, where he practically organized everything himself.363

We removed him from there. Here, in the People's Commissariat of Finance with complete powerlessness, we placed him in the NCF. Now, just when he was lying ill with typhus, we dismissed him!!!

We have done everything possible and impossible to repel a highly energetic, intelligent, and valuable worker.

He had disagreements both with the NKVT and with the NCF, because he stood for greater "freedom of trade."

He says: "Give me the opportunity to prove myself at work, let me lead it through to completion, do not harass me." And of course, this desire is entirely legitimate.

We must attempt to arrange for him to work in the VSNKh. In any case, we must achieve at all costs that we do not lose this worker and that we fulfill his entirely legitimate wish: place him in definite work and give him at least a year of experience, test him, do not harass him. (He will work anywhere, only do not harass him.)
(He would like to work in the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. He had disagreements with Chicherin concerning the foreign policy of the FER.)

Lenin

Published for the first time, from the manuscript