Secret

Tov. Trotsky

Shall we not "cover" the fleet for a year at all1? What's it for? And give the coal to railroads or textile factories to give the men cloth? In my opinion, it would be necessary to take drastic measures here. Let the fleet suffer. And the Soviets will win.

21/III-21.

Lenin.

Published - The Trotsky papers. 1917-1922. V. II, p. 414.

Fund 2, op. 1, d. 26133 - copy.

1The X Congress of the RCP(b) (March 8-16, 1921) decided to revive and strengthen the military fleet (see: The CPSU in Resolutions and Decisions of Congresses, Conferences and Plenums of the Central Committee. 9th ed., vol. 2. M., 1983, pp. 378-379). However, due to economic and financial difficulties, V.I.Lenin appealed to L.D.Trotsky with the published proposal. Trotsky's reply could not be found, apparently it was negative. This is confirmed by the discussion and decision on the issue of the release of coal to the Baltic Fleet. On March 18, the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic requested 4.6 million poods of imported coal for the Baltic Fleet to meet current needs and to form an operational reserve for three months. The request was considered in the Council of Labor and Defense on March 18. Signing the minutes of the STO meeting, Lenin attached a note: "On par. 17 I am against the issue of 4.6 millions poods of coal to the fleet. Lenin" (Lenin's Collection XX, p. 198). The final decision of the STO was taken on April 6: "To take note of the report of Mr. Lyadov on the agreement reached on the issue of additional purchase abroad and the provision of 4,600,000 poods of coal to the Baltic Fleet" (RCCHIDNI, f. 19, op. 3, d. 202, l. 151).