V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v35; en:CW/CW26;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

1. SPEECHES ON THE QUESTION OF MEASURES TO COMBAT FAMINE

1

From Vladimirov’s data it follows that the ration must be left as before. Measures must be taken to find what is available in Petrograd.

2

All these data reveal the monstrous inactivity of the Petrograd workers. The Petrograd workers and soldiers must realise that no one will help them except themselves. The facts of abuse are obvious, speculation is monstrous, but what have the soldiers and workers done in the mass to combat it? If the masses are not roused to independent action, nothing will come of it. It is necessary to convene a plenary meeting of the Soviet and to decide to carry out mass searches in Petrograd and at the goods stations. For the searches, every factory, every company must detail detachments; for the searches we must not enlist volunteers, but must make it obligatory for everyone, under threat of deprivation of the bread card. Until we apply terror—shooting on the spot—to the speculators, nothing will come of it. If the detachments are composed of casual, unorganised people, there can be no looting. Moreover, looters must also be dealt with resolutely—shot on the spot.

The well-to-do section of the population must be left without bread for three days, because they have stocks of other products and can obtain them from speculators at high prices.

2. DRAFT RESOLUTION

A full meeting of the Petrograd Soviet shall be convened and revolutionary measures to combat the speculators and to save the country from famine shall be adopted:

1) The entire mass of soldiers and workers shall be enlisted to form several thousand detachments (of 10–15 persons, or perhaps more), which shall be obliged to devote a certain number of hours daily (e.g., 3–4 hours) to service in the food supply work.

2) Regiments and factories which do not regularly supply the required number of detachments shall be deprived of bread cards and shall be subjected to revolutionary measures of pressure and punishment.

3) The detachments shall immediately carry out a search, firstly, of the railway stations, with inspection and registration of wagons containing grain; secondly, of the lines and junction stations near Petrograd; thirdly, of all warehouses and private apartments.

Instructions for inspection, registration and requisition shall be drawn up by the Presidium of the Petrograd Soviet with the participation of delegates from the district Soviets, or by a special commission.

4) Speculators caught red-handed and fully proved guilty shall be shot on the spot by the detachments. Members of the detachments proved guilty of dishonesty shall be liable to the same punishment.

5) From the total number of revolutionary detachments for extreme measures to save the country from famine, the most reliable and best-armed detachments shall be selected for dispatch to all stations and to all districts of the principal grain-producing gubernias. These detachments, with the participation of railwaymen taken on the authority of the local railway committees, shall be charged, firstly, with control over the movement of grain consignments; secondly, with control over the collection and delivery of grain; thirdly, with the adoption of the most extreme revolutionary measures against speculators and for the requisition of grain stocks.

6) The revolutionary detachments, whenever drawing up a report of a requisition, arrest or shooting, shall call in witnesses to the number of not less than six, who must be chosen from the poorest population in the immediate vicinity.