V. I.

Lenin

Draft Decision for the Plenum of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) on The Conflict Between the Petrograd Commune and the Petrograd Soviet [1]

1) Badayev for M.C.S. [Moscow Consumers’ Society. —Editor. ]

2) Badayev to be rehabilitated (through the Orgbureau).

3) A number of Petrograd food workers to be transferred to Moscow.

4) Petrograd to be placed under very strict supervision. [Points 2 and 4 in the manuscript are crossed out. Point 4 was not included in the adopted decision. —Editor. ]

5) Petrograd, Moscow and all other food points to be put on, an equal
footing in the distribution of bread and norms of issue. [2]

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Notes:
[1]
The conflict between the Petrograd United Consumers’ Commune and the
Petrograd Soviet was this. In the summer of 1920 a number of functionaries
of the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet headed by G. Zinoviev
and the Petrograd Trade Union Council raised the question of issuing bread
rations to workers not only for actual work days but also for holidays and
non-working days. The Board of the Petrograd Commune (A. Y. Badayev and
others) were opposed to this on the grounds that such an extra issue would
violate the very principle on which the work ration was based and that,
besides, the necessary supplies for this were lacking; in general, it might
upset the regular issue of the work ration and shake the workers’ trust in
the food supply system. The Petrograd Soviet, however, ignored the opinion
of the Petrograd Commune Board and announced the issue of rations for
holidays. Badayev refused to carry out this order and declared that the
Board of the Petrograd Commune could not work under such conditions. On
July 5, 1920, the Petrograd Gubernia Committee of the A.C.P.(B.), having
discussed “Comrade Badayev’s refusal to accept the decision of the Large
Presidium of June 23 providing for an increase in the bread ration, the
issue of 5 lb. advance and the issue of rations to workers during
holidays” resolved: “1. That all district bureaux and all functionaries
of the Petrograd Commune shall be ordered to remain at work and discharge
their duties without the slightest hitch until further notice from the
Petrograd Party Committee and the Executive Committee. 2. That it be deemed
necessary to radically change the personnel of the Petrograd Commune Board
and instruct the Bureau of the Gubernia Committee together with the
Presidium of the Executive Committee to appoint new comrades through the
medium of the Control Council of the Petrograd Commune and to get in touch
with Moscow on this question pending the convocation of a city conference
of factory committees and unions” (Party Archives of the Party History
Institute of the Leningrad Regional Committee of the C.P.S.U.).

[2]
The conflict between the Petrograd Commune and the Petrograd Soviet was
discussed at a plenary meeting of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) on July 16, 1920, at
which Lenin wrote his draft decision. Lenin’s motion was adopted. Taking
into consideration that the existing relations between the functionaries of
the Petrograd Commune and the Petrograd Soviet were likely to lead to
further conflicts, the CC. resolved to have A. Badayev and a number of
other Petrograd Commune workers transferred to Moscow. Badayev was
appointed Chairman of the Moscow Consumers’ Society.