V. I.

Lenin

77

To:   THE C.C. OF THE R.C.P.(B.) [2]

1) The proposal of Comrades Spiridonova and Karelin
is that the Bolsheviks should surrender to the Left S.R.s
absolute control of the Commissariat for Agriculture, with
the Bolsheviks retaining only political representation.

2) The grounds for this proposal are that, in the opinion
of Comrades Spiridonova and Karelin, the Commissariat for Agriculture is going to pieces, work is becoming
impossible for the Left S.R.s, they will all be compelled to
leave, because—it is alleged—they are being “ousted”, etc.

3) The meeting (of Lenin with the Bolsheviks from the
Agriculture Board) refers the question raised by the S.R.s
to the C.C. of the Party for decision. For its part, the
meeting considers the arguments of the S.R.s groundless and
their proposal unacceptable. [1]

---
Notes:
[1]
The text of point 3 is in the handwriting of V. N.
Meshcheryakov. The document is signed by V. N. Meshcheryakov, S. P. Sereda,
and N. M. Petrovsky.— Ed .

[2]
This memorandum was adopted at a meeting of Lenin and
Bolshevik members of the Board of the People’s Commissariat for
Agriculture in connection with the demand of Maria Spiridonova
and V. A. Karelin, leaders of the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries,
that the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries be given complete control
of the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture. This demand
was put forward because of the appointment of more Bolsheviks
(S. P. Sereda, V. N. Meshcheryakov, N. M. Petrovsky and others)
to the Commissariat for Agriculture following the resignation
of A. L. Kolegayev, as a result of which the position of the Left
Socialist-Revolutionaries in the Commissariat was considerably
weakened.

Lenin wrote also the following draft decision of the meeting:
“The preliminary meeting (on the questions raised by Comrades
Spiridonova and Karelin) between members of the Board of
Agriculture, Comrades Sereda and Meshcheryakov, and Lenin has
reached the conclusion that the questions raised should be
examined 33 serious political questions and therefore should certainly
be referred to the C.C., R.C.P.

“ The meeting considers it essential to refer them to the C.C.
urgently and speedily” ( Lenin Miscellany XXXVI , p. 42).

The situation in the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture
was discussed at a sitting of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) on May 3, 1918.
The Central Committee noted that the claims of the Left
Socialist-Revolutionaries were groundless and approved the decision
of the meeting.