25. III. 1921

Administrative Department of the Council of People's Commissars

Just now, Comrade Auberg (I didn't catch the surname precisely; it seems he introduced himself as commandant), whom I happened to meet by the lift at the Council of People's Commissars, told me that he will report today to Platonov (? head of Kremlin buildings?) about the necessity of calling in a specialist on lifts who worked on their assembly—such a specialist, it seems, is available at the Gutman factory.

I wish to point out that the person responsible for household management, repairs and the like (who is this?) was obliged to have found such a specialist beforehand, to establish precisely his duties (permanent or visits at set intervals), and to supervise them.

I request that order be established immediately and that you inform me in writing of all responsible persons, including the specialist on lift dismantling.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

First published in 1932 in Lenin Collection XX

Printed from the manuscript