Comrade Raskolnikov is instructed to depart urgently to the Commissariat of Trade and Industry, as well as to the Commissariat of Food (Machinery Supply Department) for the immediate organization of orders that could be transferred to factories engaged in naval construction and repair work. Of particular urgency is the production of agricultural implements and machinery, the production and repair of locomotives. First and foremost, attention must be directed to the Petrograd Metal Factory, which is supplied with fuel and metal for an extended period.

The Chief Naval Economic Administration is instructed to immediately review the estimates of the Naval Ministry for 1917 with the aim of halting all expenditures under the program for the construction of military vessels and all unproductive expenditures generally, and for the transfer of the corresponding appropriations to useful national-economic work. For participation in this work, Comrade I. E. Gukovsky is delegated in the capacity of extraordinary commissar for the review of estimates of all departments.

Daily reports to the Council of People's Commissars on the execution of this decree are placed upon Comrade Raskolnikov and upon the person authorized by the Chief Naval Economic Administration (or upon Comrade Gukovsky), as well as upon the authorized representative of the Commissariat of Trade and Industry.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Written November 29 (December 12), 1917

First printed in 1933 in Lenin Miscellany XXI

Printed from the manuscript