You made a mistake in insisting on the removal of Muralov, seeing “intrigue” where there was not a drop of it. But to run such a People’s Commissariat as the People’s Commissariat of Agriculture in such devilishly difficult conditions, one must not see “intrigue” or a “counterweight” in those who think differently or approach the matter differently, but must value independent people. We must test in practice the troika: you + a peasant (we do not yet know who and what kind) + Teodorovich. Do not hasten to reshape it before it has been born. Your predominant influence is guaranteed both by law and by much else.

I have seen Mesyatsev in the Council of Labour and Defence and the Council of People’s Commissars, but little. No one prevents him from attending (and voting) when neither you nor Teodorovich is there. This can be formalised in two minutes.

But to alter the Politburo decision there is no reason. It must be tested; organisationally it is correct.

With communist greetings,

Lenin

1921

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First published, from the text written in the hand of L. A. Fotieva

Written between December 14 and 18