Committees of the Poor are necessary for the struggle against the kulaks, the rich, the exploiters who enslave the working peasants. But between the kulaks, who are a small minority, and the poor peasants or semi-proletarians, stands the stratum of middle peasants. The Soviet government has never in anything declared or waged a struggle against them. Any steps or measures to the contrary deserve the most resolute condemnation and must be cut short. The socialist government is obliged to conduct a policy of agreement with the middle peasantry. The Soviet government has more than once proved by deeds its firm determination to follow this policy. The most important of these deeds: the adoption by the majority of the Communists (Bolsheviks) of the law on the socialization of the land and its strictly loyal implementation, then the trebling of grain prices (decree… August 1918). The same sense is contained in the decree on agricultural machines{25} and so on. It is prescribed to all to strictly observe the above-stated policy.

Written on August 16, 1918.

First published in 1931 in Lenin Miscellany XVIII.

Printed from the manuscript.