**MATERIALS ON THE QUESTION OF ORGANIZING THE RESETTLEMENT OF WORKERS AND PEASANTS FROM THE NORTHERN PROVINCES OF THE REPUBLIC TO THE SOUTHERN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY**

**I**
**MEMORANDUM♦**

[May, not earlier than 11, 1919]

Contact Lunacharsky (Kostroma)¹ immediately by telegraph regarding the fastest and maximum extraction of settlers from there to the Don².

¹ A. V. Lunacharsky — participated in the social-democratic movement from the early 1890s. After the October Socialist Revolution — People's Commissar for Education. At this time, he was in Kostroma as an authorized representative of the VTsIK, from where he reported on the severe food situation in Kostroma and Kostroma Province.
² On April 24, 1919, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a resolution "On the organization of resettlement to the producing provinces and the Don Region." The resettlement of peasants and workers from the northern provinces of the Republic to the southern regions of the country was carried out in order to alleviate their severe food situation and restore agriculture in areas affected by White Guard mutinies. On this issue, see also V. I. Lenin. Complete Collected Works, vol. 50, p. 313 and Lenin Miscellany XXXIV, pp. 144–145.

**II**
**RESOLUTION ON THE LETTER FROM THE KHALBUZH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEASANTS' DEPUTIES OF KOLOGRIVSKY UEZD, KOSTROMA PROVINCE**

Middle of the reply by telegraph
20 [1919] Lenin
May 15, 1919

To the Council of People's Commissars

By the decree of April 24 of this year, the Council of People's Commissars, with the aim of alleviating the severe food situation for citizens of the Republic in the northern provinces, instructed the People's Commissariat for Agriculture to organize the transport of settlers, but nothing regarding resettlement has yet been received locally. Our Khalbuzh Volost, Kologrivsky Uezd, as part of the northern Kostroma Province, is currently experiencing absolute famine and an actual shortage of spring seeds. Of the entire population, only one third will sow, while the remaining two thirds are doomed to death by starvation. In connection with this, the cold spring and frosts portend a probable crop failure, and it is possible that people will die by the hundreds from hunger.

The Executive Committee, with the aim of saving the starving masses from death, petitions the Council of People's Commissars to extend this decree to Khalbuzh Volost in the shortest possible time, as there are very many wishing to resettle anywhere.

Chairman Krasnov
Secretary Lebedev

¹ The document bears a resolution by S. P. Sereda dated May 21, 1919, with the note "Very urgent" regarding sending a telegram to the Kologrivsky Executive Committee (Kostroma Province) with a positive response.

**III**
**POSTSCRIPT TO THE TELEGRAM FROM S. P. SEREDA TO THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT**

[May 23, 1919]

I insist on a special exertion of efforts to arrange for the settlers immediately upon their arrival.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Kozlov
Revolutionary Military Council Civil Administration to Settler Chernogubov
Copy to Voronezh Gubernia Commission for Prisoners and Refugees*
Copy to Petrograd Eight Popov

In addition to telegram 552, I urgently request you to prepare for the reception of twenty thousand settlers, based on the calculation of the arrival in Kozlov of about two thousand per week in the near future. Organize stopping and unloading points along the routes of the settlers to their places of settlement, with the mandatory broad assistance of the Prisoners and Refugees institutions; get in touch with the Petrograd Eight, as well as other workers, to get the matter running. Do not weaken the energy shown, do not stop at any expense. Report all difficulties encountered that hinder the fulfillment of this assignment to you, for taking urgent measures to eliminate them. Inform Fedyushin, who accompanied train number one; I ask him to remain at your disposal, at least temporarily, being assigned to the service of the Central Committee of the People's Commissariat for Agriculture.

People's Commissar for Agriculture Sereda

* Gubernia Collegiate Board for Prisoners and Refugees Affairs.

**IV**
**POSTSCRIPT TO THE TELEGRAM FROM S. P. SEREDA TO THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT**

[May 23, 1919]

I insist on maximum energy from all land and resettlement workers for the immediate arrangement of arriving settlers. The strictest responsibility.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Kozlov
Revolutionary Military Council Civil Administration * copy to Voronov

By order of the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin, I request, in the most urgent manner, that you seriously prepare for the reception on the Don of the twenty thousand settlers arriving in the near future. I ask you, if possible, to personally tour the future places of settlement and identify sites for establishment. Reach an agreement, widely involve the Petrograd Eight, as well as other workers who arrived on train number one, in the task of identifying available lands for resettlement. Send a list of the stanitsas where you plan to settle them, indicating the number of souls to be settled. Report concretely on your other plans for arranging the settlers, supporting the report with figures. Direct resettlement primarily to the northern part of the region. All means, all energy at the present time must be directed exclusively to the organization of resettlement and the economic establishment of the region. Eliminate excessive, deadening red tape; the organization of departmental management should now take a back seat.

People's Commissar for Agriculture Sereda