LENIN’S NOTE.
I propose that we not take “hostages,” but instead designate individuals by name, district by district: 3
The purpose of this designation is as follows: precisely because the wealthy are responsible for the grain requisitioning system, they must bear the ultimate responsibility—indeed, their lives—for the prompt collection and storage of surplus grain.
The instruction is as follows (to appoint “hostages”): it is to be issued to (a) the committees of the poor
and (b) all grain procurement teams.
Strength? Precisely now, in the frontline zone, strength is at hand; it will be.
1 A. I. Smirnov—Deputy People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs, authorized by the CUK to oversee the procurement and shipment of grain and other food supplies in the Saratov Governorate region.
2 I. I. Popov—Head of the Central Statistical Administration.
3 This formulation was repeated in a direct telegram from E. Bosch to Penza (see p. 204).

* ON THE CONFISCATION OF SEED GRAIN FROM THE KULAKS.
[August 1918]
Shouldn’t we add something?
…let the committees of the poor confiscate grain intended for seed from the wealthy kulaks—and in any case, if confiscation proves impossible at this time, then it is imperative that, in due course, the wealthy be held liable for those seeds which are temporarily taken from the grain stored in the estates of the gentry for the benefit of the poor.¹
1 It has not been possible to determine to which document this addition refers.