LENINSKIYE Sborniki
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20425
REPLY FROM TSURUPA.
Hostages can be taken when there is real power.
But is there such power? Doubtful.
Popov can complete the work in the shortest possible time regarding districts,
as for the volosts — I will clarify and push the matter forward with full force.
A. Tsurupa.
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26425
LENIN'S NOTE.
I propose not to take "hostages," but to appoint them by name in each volost: 3
The purpose of the appointment: precisely the rich, how they are responsible
for the contribution, they answer with their lives for the immediate collection and stockpiling of surplus grain.
Instructions to (appoint "hostages") should be given to:
(a) committees of the poor (b) all food detachments.
Power? Precisely now, in the front-line zone, power will be available.
1 A. I. Smirnov — Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs,
authorized representative of the Sovnarkom for the procurement and dispatch of grain and other foodstuffs in the Saratov province.
2 I. I. Popov — Head of the Central Statistical Administration.
3 This formulation is repeated in the note sent by direct wire from E. Bosh to Penza (see p. 204).

* ON THE CONFISCATION OF SEEDS FROM KULAKS.
[August 1918]
Should it not be added?
...let the committees of the poor confiscate seeds from the rich kulaks and in any case, if confiscation is not possible now, then it is necessary to subsequently recover from the rich those seeds which are temporarily taken for the poor from the grain of the landed estates.1
1 It has not been possible to determine to which document this addition refers.