On the Delimitation of Functions within the Extraordinary Commissions 11
OF THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION.
DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS
[February 13 (January 31), 1918]
The commissions of Comrade Dzerzhinsky and Comrade Bonch-Bruevich are hereby recommended to merge, while clearly delineating their respective spheres of activity into sub‑divisions—namely, the Propaganda Division, the Criminal Division, the Speculation Division, and the Counter‑Revolutionary and Revolutionary Division.
The People’s Commissariat for Justice is instructed to submit to the Council of People’s Commissars lists of candidates for membership in the Investigative Commission.
The People’s Commissariat is likewise tasked with taking measures to increase the number of detention facilities, improve prison conditions, and intensify criminal repression.
Adopted.
1 The draft resolution proposed by Lenin was adopted at the meeting of the Council of People’s Commissars on January 31, 1918, as an addendum to the Council’s resolution on the reports presented by F. E. Dzerzhinsky and V. D. Bonch-Bruevich concerning the activities of the Extraordinary and Investigative Commissions they headed in the fight against counter‑revolution, sabotage, and speculation.
1H2
ON THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION UNDER THE PETROGRAD SOVIET.
ADDENDUM TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS
[February 26, 1918]
In light of Comrade Shreider’s statement2 that he remains firmly convinced—contrary to the commission’s opinion—of T. Mitsgendlers’ guilt in matters of bribery, the Council of People’s Commissars [proposes] that Comrade Shreider, first, reiterate his statement in writing; second, personally bring before the court, without delay, a formal charge against Mitsgendlers.

At the meeting of the Council of People’s Commissars on February 26, 1918, a report was heard from the chairman of the auditing commission regarding the investigative commission under the Petrograd Soviet (see p. 114 of the Collection). The following resolution was adopted: “Having heard the report of the auditing commission concerning the investigative commission—the Council of People’s Commissars hereby declares that all accusations against the responsible leaders of the investigative commission—

ON THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION UNDER THE PETROGRAD SOVIET
C 7
in connection with bribery and other crimes or improper conduct are entirely unfounded, and that the entire campaign waged against them constitutes but one part of a broader, malicious campaign of lies and slander directed against the workers’ and peasants’ government by representatives, agents, and mercenaries of the bourgeoisie. Taking into account that the investigation was conducted in complete transparency, that all interested parties and those directly affected had been informed of the ongoing inquiry through the press, and that for six full weeks they possessed ample opportunity to submit all relevant data and provide testimony shedding light on the investigative commission’s activities from every possible angle, the Council of People’s Commissars declares the investigation concluded and the investigative commission dissolved. In view of the foregoing, the responsible leaders of the investigative commission—Comrades Krasikov, Kozlovsky, Lindeks, Mitsgendlers, and Razin—who had been temporarily relieved of their duties during the course of the investigation—are now restored to their former posts” (Minutes of the Council of People’s Commissars, No. 10, Vol. 3, dated February 26, 1918). The draft resolution now being printed was proposed by Lenin and adopted as an addendum to the Council of People’s Commissars’ resolution concerning the members of the investigative commission.
2 A. A. Shreider (a Left Socialist‑Revolutionary) served as Deputy People’s Commissar for Justice.

IV. INDUSTRY
November 24 (11), 1917 – December 12, 1918

ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ALL‑RUSSIAN CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
November 24 (11), 1917
Comrades Valerian Valerianovich Obolensky, Vladimir Mikhailovich Smirnov, and Maximilian Alexandrovich Savelyev are authorized to carry out the work of organizing the Supreme Economic Council¹ and therefore have the right to request information, materials, and documents pertaining to questions of national economy and measures for its regulation from all institutions—both public and governmental.
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, V. Ulyanov (Lenin).

Thus, until December 1, 1917 (Old Style), this institution was known by that name—later developing under the title of the Supreme Council of National Economy (VSNKh) (see V. Obolensky (N. Osinsky): From the Early Days of the Supreme Council of National Economy. “Narodnoye Khozyaystvo,” No. 11, 1918).
ON THE CONVERSION OF MILITARY FACTORIES TO PEACE‑TIME PRODUCTION
1
December 12 (November 29), 1917 – February (January 23), 1918
103.3
I.
Resolution of the Council
of People’s Commissars /
[December 12] November 29, 1917
Comrade Raskolnikov is hereby instructed to urgently proceed to the Commissariat of Trade and Industry, as well as to the Commissariat of

ON THE CONVERSION OF MILITARY FACTORIES TO PEACE‑TIME WORK
C 9
Food Supply (the Department of Material Provisioning) in order to immediately organize orders that could be entrusted to factories engaged in naval construction and repair work.
Particularly urgent is the production of agricultural implements and machinery, as well as the manufacture and repair of locomotives. First and foremost, attention should be given to the St. Petersburg Metal Works, which is abundantly supplied with fuel and metal for the long term.
The Main Naval Economic Administration is instructed to promptly review the naval ministry’s budget for
1917—with the aim of suspending all expenditures under the program for building warships and all other non‑productive expenses, and redirecting the corresponding appropriations toward useful tasks related to the national economy. To participate in this work, Comrade I. E. Gukovsky is delegated as [extraordinary] extraordinary commissioner for the revision of budgets across all departments.
Daily reports to the Council of People’s Commissars on the implementation of this directive are to be submitted by Comrade Baskolishkov and by the official designated by the Main Naval Economic Administration (or by Comrade Gukovsky), as well as by the representative appointed by the Commissariat of Trade and Industry.
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, V. Ulyanov (Lenin).
1 The difficulties associated with demobilizing military industry—stemming from the need to operate in a new, still unexplored market—were exceedingly great. A number of former military factories were forced to close temporarily.
Lenin devoted considerable attention to successfully resolving this issue. On December 12 (November 29), 1917, at his initiative, the question of converting military factories to productive work was placed before the Council of People’s Commissars for discussion. He returned to this issue once again when considering the report of G. G. Smidovich on the suspension of operations at the Putilov Plant (see p. 121 of the Collection). Finally, later in mid‑December 1917, Lenin singled out this question as a special item in his program of economic measures, issuing it as a formal government directive. (See “Draft Decree on the Socialization of the National Economy,” Section 9; Collected Works, Vol. XXII, pp. 139–141.)
2 F. F. Raskolnikov served at this time as Deputy People’s Commissar for Naval Affairs.

II.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS 1.
[February 5 (January 23), 1918]
Expressing deep regret that the relevant commissions have been extremely slow in actually beginning the process of conversion

sh

of metalworking plants to productive work, the Council of People’s Commissars requests that the Petrograd Union of Metallurgists, with the assistance of the Labor Commissariat, the Petrograd Soviet, and the All‑Russian Central Executive Committee,
immediately begin converting metalworking plants to work on repairing and reinforcing railway materials, as well as to the production of goods suitable for exchange for grain, and so forth.
All military contracts are to be terminated.
III.
RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL SESSION
Lenin
3 – 2
Obolensky + 3 – 2
Petrovsky + 2 – 1
The resolution was adopted.
1 Adopted on February 5 (January 23) during the discussion of A. G. Shlyapnikov’s report on the demobilization of industry. The draft resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars was written in ink by Lenin.
The voting results for the resolutions proposed in connection with the report were recorded in pencil by Lenin.
10%8
AMENDMENT TO THE DECREE
ON THE CONFISCATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE BOGOSLOVSKY MINING DISTRICT JOINT STOCK COMPANY
[December 7 (20), 1917]
In view of the refusal of the Management Board of the Bogoslovsky Mining District Joint Stock Company to comply with the Council of People’s Commissars’ decree on the introduction of worker control over production, the Council of People’s Commissars resolved to confiscate all property of the Bogoslovsky Mining District Joint Stock Company—regardless of the nature of that property—and to declare it the property of the Russian Republic.
All administrative and technical personnel are required to remain at their posts and continue to perform their duties.
Those who leave their positions without authorization or engage in sabotage will be brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal.
[Conditions] The procedures for managing the affairs of the
[company] in Petrograd, as well as the terms for transferring individual
factories and enterprises