February 18, 1921

Ekaterinburg
Commissariat of Labor Schmidt

I have refused to sign the decree on the merger of the Commissariat of Labor and the Chief Committee of Labor.¹ I consider it necessary to establish and formalize organizational liaison with the Commissariat of Internal Affairs and the Commissariat of War at the center and locally while concentrating labor conscription in the hands of the Commissariat of Labor. I am bringing the matter before the Council of People's Commissars.

Telegraph your opinion. If you object, then to whom do you entrust the defense of your views?¹¹⁴

Lenin

First published in 1959 in Lenin Miscellany XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript