MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE

COPY TO COMRADE KURSKY

15 November 1920

Gorky reminds me about the publication of a decree concerning the confiscation of the property of émigrés.

It seems this was already agreed upon.

Why has it stalled?

Please find out, speed things up, and tell me at the SNK by 16 November*.

With communist greetings, Lenin

* On 16 November consideration was scheduled at the SNK of the draft decree on the confiscation of the property of émigrés, and the following decision was adopted:

"The Council of People's Commissars decrees:

1. To declare the property of the RSFSR all movable property of citizens who have fled beyond the borders of the republic or are in hiding at the present time, whatever its nature and wherever it may be located.

2. From the aforementioned property all objects of art and antiquities possessing special artistic and historical value shall be transferred to museums, universities and other educational institutions by order of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment; all remaining property of such citizens shall be converted into the commodity fund of the republic and placed at the disposal of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade and other People's Commissariats as appropriate.

3. The People's Commissariats of Enlightenment and Foreign Trade, in execution of the present decree, shall issue detailed instructions."

(Archive of IMEL, doc. No. 13409).