V. I.

Lenin

92

To:   WASHINGTON VANDERLIP

Moscow, March 17, 1921.

Mr. Washington B. Vanderlip

Dear Sir, I thank you for your kind letter of the 14th, and am very
glad to hear of President Harding’s favourable views as to
our trade with America. You know what value we attach to
our future American business relations. We fully recognise
the part played in this respect by your syndicate and also
the great importance of your personal efforts. [2] Your new
proposals are highly interesting and I have asked the
Supreme Council of National Economy to report to me at short intervals about the progress of the negotiations. You
can be sure that we will treat every reasonable suggestion
with the greatest attention and care. [1]

It is on production and trade that our efforts are principally concentrated
and your help is to us of the greatest value.

If you have to complain of some officials please send your complaint to the-respective People’s Commissary who
will investigate the matter and report if necessary. I have
already ordered special investigation concerning the person
you mention in your letter.

The Congress of the Communist Party has taken so much of my time and forces that I am very tired and ill. Will
you kindly excuse me if I am unable to have an interview
with you just now. I will beg Comrade Chicherin to speak
with you shortly.

Wishing you much success I remain.

Yours truly, Wl. Oulianoff (Lenin)

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Notes:
[1]
See Document 94 of this volume.— Ed.

[2]
In the autumn of 1920, Washington Vanderlip, representing the
Vanderlip Syndicate, a large American concern, came to Moscow
for talks on a concession for fisheries, and exploration for and
extraction of oil and coal in Kamchatka and the rest of Eastern
Siberia to the east of longitude 160°. A draft agreement was worked
out at the end of October under which the syndicate was to
receive a 60–year concession. After 35 years the Soviet
Government was to have an option to buy out all the concession
enterprises, and upon the expiry of the whole period, the enterprises
and equipment in full running order were to be transferred free
of charge into the ownership of the R.S.F.S.R. However, the
syndicate failed to obtain support either from its own government or from influential financial groups in the U.S.A., and the
draft agreement was not signed.

p. 98