To all Gubprodkoms, Oblprodkoms, Plenipotentiaries of Narkomprod, Plenipotentiaries of Sovnarkom.

November 28, 1918

By decrees of August 3 and 8* on fixed prices for grain of the 1918 harvest,** a 25% discount on the announced prices was established, beginning December 1. However, an early onset and protracted autumn rasputitsa, the natural striving of agriculturalists to transport and deliver to the state in the first place potatoes threatened with spoilage, the difficulties encountered by food organs and which prevented them from delivering in timely fashion to the countryside goods of first necessity and from establishing on a broad scale commodity exchange, finally, the prolonged autumn months of liberation from White Guard bands in the Volga region and Prikamye, as well as the unceasing raids of Krasnov's gangs in the south and kulak uprisings flaring up in various places — all this has in part slowed the harvest of grain, in part prevented its timely delivery to the state. The Worker-Peasant Soviet Government takes all these difficulties into account. Wishing to provide the toiling peasantry the possibility of fulfilling their duty before the socialist fatherland to deliver all surplus grain at fixed prices without their reduction, the present decree orders, in amendment of the decrees of August 3 and 8 on fixed prices for grain of the 1918 harvest, not to lower these prices until February 1, 1919.

By that time the toiling peasantry will have transported all surplus grain. All food organs are ordered to concentrate all their strength on delivering goods to the countryside in exchange for grain. After February 1, grain will remain only with the wealthy. From that date the price on it will be lowered. The Worker-Peasant Government will not reward the wealthy, who do not transport grain and do not heed the voice of revolutionary duty, with the full price; and those who hide grain will have it confiscated without payment. All food organs are requested to immediately publicize this decree widely to the entire population. [1317/т].

Chairman of Sovnarkom Lenin.
Deputy Narkomprod Bryukhanov.

The exchange of notes between Lenin and L. B. Kamenev is a continuation of correspondence, the beginning of which has not been possible to locate. This correspondence apparently arose in connection with the discussion by the SNK on December 10, 1948 of the question of permitting Moscow workers' organizations independent procurement of non-rationed products (see SNK protocol No. 252, arch. I. L. No. 42458).