ON THE BUREAU MEMORANDA AND
WITH V. P. MILYUTIN, I. E. GUKOVSKY, AND
A. D. TSURUPA
12 JUNE 1918
I.
LENIN’S MEMORANDUM.
Gukovsky?/ and Milyutin.
Should we not appoint an audit of the Department of Agricultural [and] Machine-Building,
with a demand that they provide answers—within a short timeframe—to a series of practical questions?
Lenin.
II.
GUKOVSKY’S RESPONSE.
I believe this is highly, indeed exceedingly necessary.
III.
MILYUTIN’S RESPONSE.
I fully agree. I have already raised this issue within my own sphere of responsibility.
IV.
LENIN’S MEMORANDUM.
Tsyrupa.
And what is your opinion, Bashé?
Kozmin is requesting 400 million [rubles]. What precise information do you possess regarding the production and distribution of agricultural machinery?
V.
TSYRUPA’S RESPONSE.
At present, I cannot offer any definitive information. In the shortest possible time—within 48 hours—I can provide a thorough report. I can say now that there are certain shortcomings; however, I must add: it so happens that today I have just approved *a specific organizational structure
* (a trio composed of representatives from the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture, the Commissariat of Food Supplies)
* Underlined by Lenin. Ed.

ON ENSURING THAT PEASANTS HAVE ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

The Departments of Agriculture and the Commissariat of Food Supplies), one that will eliminate the possibility of the previously identified shortcomings. I would suggest postponing the question of an audit for the time being, leaving it until I submit my report.
VI.
LENIN’S MEMORANDUM.
Tsyrupa.
X com\ ?
XX Has it already been appointed?
From whom? When? By whom?
Why not appoint this trio here and now?
VII.
TSYRUPA’S RESPONSE.
*
To the Head of the Commodity Exchange Administration, in the presence of a member of the Collegium of the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture. I am appointing Kogan, who heads the Machinery Supply Division of the Commissariat of Food Supplies. One could certainly make the appointment here as well—but that would amount to little more than paperwork. The very same trio I am speaking of will include those directly invested in the success of this endeavor.
1 At the meeting of the Council of People’s Commissars on 1–2 June 1918, a report by P. A. Kozmin concerning the establishment of a Fund for Financing Agricultural Machine-Building was discussed. During the ensuing debate, a number of negative aspects in the work of the Agricultural Machine-Building Department under the Supreme Council of National Economy were brought to light, prompting the Council of People’s Commissars to appoint a commission “to examine the state of affairs and clarify those issues that had been raised during the course of the debate.”