V. I.

Lenin

Draft Decision for the C.P.C. on Potato Prices [1]

1) Introduction of fixed prices for potatoes to be postponed until
1.X.

2) The Central Statistical Board to be directed:

to immediately mobilise the entire statistical personnel for (α) taking stock of the potato harvest; (β) taking stock of and registering the medium and big
growers of potatoes first in the chief potato-growing gubernias around Moscow; then in the remaining potato-growing gubernias.

The Head of the Central Statistical Board to be required not later than
tomorrow, Friday, and subsequently twice a week, to report what measures
have been taken.

3) The Commissariat for Food (in co-operation with the Commissariat for
Internal Affairs and the Moscow Soviet) to urgently consider introducing a
demand for signed vouchers (from the owner of the potatoes who has sold
them) as a condition for the free transportation of the potatoes by
cartage, railway and waterway.

4) The Commissariat for Food to be directed immediately to mobilise all
forces for organising by 25.VIII the urgent and mass purchase of not less
than 40 million poods of potatoes at market prices and their delivery to
government warehouses in the capital and to military bases.

5) Workers to be enlisted for this purpose en masse through
the trade unions and the Soviets of the industrial gubernias,

6) A report on the progress of this operation and on the measures for
its preparation (as well as recorded information on it) to be made tomorrow, Friday, and subsequently twice a week, by the
Commissariat for Food.

7) Five hundred million rubles to be assigned to the Commissariat for
Food for the potato purchasing operation.

8) Point I of this decision to be published not later than tomorrow. [2]