OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
ON MARITIME AND RIVER COMMERCIAL FLEET

January 18 (31), 1918

1) The Council of People's Commissars finds that both the Central Committee and the Central Volga are in complete agreement regarding the necessity to nationalize immediately and without compensation all maritime and river vessels serving commercial purposes.

*Against item 4, V. I. Lenin made a note in pencil in the margin of the manuscript regarding the addition here of § 3 from the resolution of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. In the third paragraph of the resolution referred to by V. I. Lenin, it is stated: "Until the question of fleet nationalization is resolved, place under arrest all maritime and river cargo and passenger vessels and introduce for these vessels compulsory repairs at the expense of owners under the control of organizations of ship workers".*

**Just as above, V. I. Lenin marked here the addition of § 1 from the same resolution of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. In the first paragraph of this resolution it is stated: "Propose that the Central Committee of the union of river and maritime workers and the Central Volga unite at the forthcoming congress of river and maritime workers and immediately enter into business contact" (Archive of IMEL, doc. no. 11136).*

2) Therefore the Council of People's Commissars resolves to carry out this nationalization immediately, entrusting a special commission composed of representatives of the Maritime Commissariat, two representatives from the Central Committee, two from the Central Volga, and a chairman appointed by the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

3) The nationalization of the entire fleet is decreed.

4) Responsibility for maintaining order on ships, for their preservation, etc., is placed directly on the ship commands, and then on the unions of ship workers of each basin or sea.

Until the question of fleet nationalization is considered, place under arrest all maritime and river cargo and passenger vessels and introduce for these vessels compulsory repairs at the expense of owners under the control of organizations of ship workers.

5) The Central bodies of all nationalized fleet are temporarily recognized as the Central Committee and the Central Volga, pending a congress and until unification.

If unification is not achieved voluntarily, it will be carried out by Soviet power by force.

Propose that the Central Committee of the union of river and maritime workers and the Central Volga unite at the forthcoming congress of river and maritime workers and immediately enter into business contact.

6) The Central bodies act in full subordination to the organs of local and central Soviet power.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars  
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

People's Commissar  
Stalin

*Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin.*