Petrograd, Smolny  
To the Council of People’s Commissars of the Petrograd Labour Commune.

Copies to Shlyapnikov, Chairman of the Evacuation Commission, and Gorbunov, Secretary of the Council of People’s Commissars

I have received Gorbunov’s note. I vigorously protest against the delay in the evacuation of industry. Larin and Milyutin have no right to alter decisions. If anyone is dissatisfied with my order, let him appeal it to the Council of People’s Commissars or the Central Executive Committee, but until my order is rescinded, its execution is mandatory. I am particularly outraged that the billion-rouble stocks on Gutuyevsky Island have not been touched. This is a disgrace. At all costs, begin and carry out the evacuation of these stocks in the most urgent manner. The Council of People’s Commissars is to send precise reports twice a week on what has actually been done for the evacuation, and how many railway cars have been evacuated.

Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars  
Lenin

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First published in 1933  
in Lenin Miscellany XXI  

Printed from the manuscript