Over the direct wire

To Mr. Frumkin. Rostov-on-Don

To Sheinman. Tiflis

Copy: Deputy Executive Committee of Yugvosta Filippovich. Rostov Don

Filippovich has sent a message to the Supreme Council of National Economy about the imminent arrival in Novorossiysk from Constantinople of the steamship "Lucy" with a cargo of 2,000 tons of all kinds of assembled, random goods, not purchased or inspected by anyone; the prices of the goods have also not been established by anyone. In return they demand raw materials, stubble, potash, salomas. As if this whole adventure is sanctioned not only by the French Government, which of course is interested in upsetting and confusing our planned trade, but also by our Government in Georgia. Please telegraph immediately whether the above communication is correct. If permission has been granted, it is necessary to cancel it at any cost, to upset this absolutely unfavorable deal for us. With regard to the French firm Optorg Krasin had the most unfavorable information in London. We confirm that in the event of a repetition of such an outrage, those responsible for authorizing such unauthorized import enterprises will be subjected to the strictest responsibility.

Predsovnarkom Lenin.

People's Commissar for Foreign Trade Krasin.

Fond 2, op. 1, d. 17256 - original.

1 During a meeting of the Council of Labor and Defense on February 9, 1921, the chairman of the Committee of Foreign Trade A. Lomov (G.I.Oppokov) introduced Lenin with a telegram from the deputy chairman of the Industrial Bureau of the South-East I.V.Phillipovich about the imminent arrival in Novorossiysk steamship with French goods for exchange. Lenin replied to Lomov: "Draw up the text in agreement with Krasin, then I will sign" (Lenin's Collection XXXVIII, p. 349). The telegram on this issue was signed by Lenin and L.B. Krasin.