WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE REPORT OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS AT THE NINTH ALL-RUSSIAN CONGRESS OF SOVIETS

The briefest information (2-3 figures) and so exact (or with a note about the degree of approximation to accuracy) that it would be worth my inserting into the speech at the Congress of Soviets?

I request answers that are briefest, in 1, maximum 2 pages

INQUIRIES TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIATS. 17 DECEMBER 1921

1. Comrade Chicherin (or, if he cannot, Litvinov)
and Comrade Radek

Will it be sufficient, in characterizing the international position of the RSFSR, to say that from Poland and Rumania there threatens only their military party, and not all the classes dominating in them?
- that the union of 4 powers (England, the United States, France, and Japan), concluded at the Washington Conference, is, first, extremely fragile, like all imperialist unions; second, hostile to all other peoples?

Should I add something to this?

Can one recount the plan for inviting Russia and Germany to the 2nd conference in April 1922?141 To what source can one refer? To what extent should this be considered trustworthy or probable?

2. Comrade Chicherin (Litvinov)

Can one characterize our progress during 1921 by an increase in the number of trade agreements with European powers? If yes, then list them (in 1920 only with England; during 1921 with such-and-such).

If no, then can one characterize progress in this regard by other data, besides the volume of trade turnover (about which I shall inquire of the NKFT)?

3. Comrade Lezhava

Is it not possible to characterize our progress during 1921 in regard to the development of trade with foreign countries by two or three figures, even if they be the roughest and most approximate? For instance, purchases and orders in 1920 — approximately such-and-such a sum; in 1921 for so many months approximately such-and-such, and in total will probably be up to such-and-such?

Is it not possible to single out Germany in this regard? Is it not possible to give 2-3 summary figures about the size of our exports abroad in 1921 compared with 1920?

4. Comrade Fomin

Can you not communicate to me exact or approximate figures of how many new locomotives (and wagons? and cisterns?) were brought in 1921 from abroad? compared with 1920? other products for transport?
the same: ordered in 1921 for such-and-such a sum?

Is it not possible for me to cite in my report to the Congress of Soviets facts about the condition of transport in 1921 compared with 1920 in the briefest form, the most essential (one page)?

5. Comrade Trotsky

Is it not possible to add to your theses and to your report something about the economic work of the army? about the preservation of continuous connection with the Soviet labour armies?142 and in general in accordance with the assignment formulated in the resolution of one of the plenums of the CC in 1921, or of one of the meetings of the Politburo in autumn 1921?143

6. Comrade Khinchuk

Can you not supplement those figures of the development of the turnover of Centrosoyuz which you gave me (1 million; three and 6 million gold for August, September and October 1921),* first, with approximate figures for November? second, with a figure for grain purchases? third, with a figure for the number of provincial unions that have submitted reports out of the total number of them? fourth, with any other briefest summary information which I could cite in my report to the Congress of Soviets?

7. Comrade Osinsky

Can you not give me for my report to the Congress of Soviets 2-3 summary figures, first, about the fulfilment of our task of supplying peasants with seeds for autumn 1921; second, about some other tangible results and successes already showing themselves in 1921?

* See also the present volume, document 97. —Ed.

INQUIRIES TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIATS. 17 DECEMBER 1921

8. Comrade Smilga (or Trifonov)

Is it not possible for me to communicate, for insertion into my report to the Congress of Soviets, the briefest figures about fuel:
I have a report from Pyatakov about the Donbass. Is it not possible to have summary figures for 1920 and 1921?
the same about oil?
the same about peat?
the same about firewood for 1920 and 1921?

9. Comrade Bogdanov

I request you to communicate to me for my report to the Congress of Soviets the briefest information (not more than 1/2-1 page for each point)
about metallurgy during 1921 compared with 1920?
about Yugostal?
about the significance and perspectives of the enterprise of Rutgers and his group?
about aid to the Urals (Hammer's concessions)
about the textile industry?
about certain results of the work of Glavzemkhoz?144 (task: the briefest, indicative figures which could be named in the report, in order to illustrate both the full weight of the situation and the small signs of improvement).

10. Comrade Gorbunov

On electrification end of Levi's article145 development in the number and power of electric stations
for 1918, 1919, 1920, and 1921.

The significance of Kashirka and Utkina zavod and their opening scheduled for spring 1922.
the same about Volkhovstroy.146

11. Comrades Lunacharsky, Pokrovsky, Litkens

I request you to communicate to me, for my report to the Congress of Soviets, brief data which could characterize graphically the growth of the thirst for knowledge, the striving for learning, progress in this matter (2-3 figures no more about the number of students, number of libraries, etc.; the most striking).

12. Radchenko: about h y d r o p e a t: what has been ordered in Germany? prospects for 1922?

Written 17 December 1921

First published in 1933 in Lenin Miscellany XXIII

Printed from the manuscript