I propose the following plan to you. To combat the stupidity of the "cultural-national autonomists," the Russian Social-Democratic Labour faction in the State Duma should introduce a bill on the equality of nations and the protection of the rights of national minorities.

Let us draft such a bill. A general provision on equality; the division of the country into autonomous and self-governing territorial units on the basis, among other things, of nationality (the local population outlines the boundaries, the all-state parliament confirms them); the limits of jurisdiction of autonomous regions and districts, as well as self-governing local units; the illegality of any deviation from the equality of nations in the decisions of autonomous regions, zemstvos, etc.; general school councils, democratically elected, and so on; freedom and equality of languages — the choice of languages by municipal institutions, etc.; protection of minorities: the right to a proportional share of expenditures, to school premises (free of charge) for pupils of "other nationalities," to teachers of "other nationalities," to "other-nationality" sections of museums and libraries, theatres, etc.; the right of every citizen to seek annulment (in court) of any deviation from equality, respectively any "trampling" of the rights of national minorities (quinquennial censuses in mixed areas, decennial censuses in the state), etc.

It seems to me that in this way we could popularise the stupidity of cultural-national autonomy and finally kill the supporters of this stupidity.

The bill could be worked out by Marxists of all, or very many, nations of Russia.

Write at once whether you agree to help. In general, write more often, at least once a week.

It is unforgivable to remain long without answering, bear this in mind, especially now!!

I shake your hand. Yours, V. I.

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Sent from Poronin to Baku

First published in 1930

in the Lenin Miscellany XIII

Printed from the manuscript