Date: 1917
Source: ru:PSS/v51

Source: PSS, Volume 51

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE

The Polish offer of peace provides us with an opportunity to deploy the troops earmarked for transfer from the Caucasus Front to the Western Front in a more systematic manner. Accordingly, I propose that the Council of Defense adopt the following resolution:

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE. JULY 1920

1. The troops of the Caucasus Front are to march on foot across the entirety of Ukraine, plotting their route so that each volost—of which there are roughly 1,900 throughout Ukraine—will be traversed twice, at specified intervals: first by mounted units, then by foot columns, in order to carry out—and subsequently verify the implementation of—the following tasks:

(a) The collection of food supplies, according to the established rationing plan; (b) The on-site establishment, in each village and under the protection and responsibility of local peasants, of a double reserve of food—double the amount prescribed by the rationing plan—stored in barns, in the homes of priests, landowners, wealthy farmers, and the like.

The purpose of this double reserve is to serve as a fund for commodity exchange: after providing local peasants with goods—both Russian and foreign—in accordance with agreements reached with them, grain will be drawn from this reserve;

(c) The compilation—and verification—of a list of “responsible” peasants (selected from among the local wealthy landowners; typically, 5–20% of households are designated as “responsible,” depending on the size of the village and ranked from top down according to their level of wealth).

The “responsible” peasants bear personal responsibility for the fulfillment of food-related and other state mandates.

Upon the withdrawal of the troops, it becomes the special duty of local authorities—subject to execution by firing squad for failure to discharge this duty—to maintain and safeguard this list;

(d) The disarmament of wealthy peasant households.

A complete inventory of all weapons must be conducted. The commander of the military unit shall be held responsible for any weapons not accounted for; those who conceal or fail to report weapons shall face execution, while the entire group of “responsible” peasants shall be subject to penalties—not in the form of monetary fines, but rather in the form of grain and household goods; confiscation of property, arrest, and forced labor in the mines;

(e) Assistance in sowing fields, repairing agricultural implements, and performing other essential tasks.