V. I.

Lenin

124

To:   G. L. PYATAKOV

14/ IV.

Comrade Pyatakov:

I am sending you ( secretly and not for the press, by any means) material on the concessions. This is an answer
to your questions.

You will see how we are conducting the concessions policy.

Concerning the Donbas we are awaiting the results of your work. I took the plus 10 per cent to mean over and above 600 million, as a
programme, [1] and not “over and above”... the earlier figure!

“ If I had the grain, I would....” Aren’t you ashamed to
repeat these cliches? Of course, if someone gave it to you....

No, sir, you will have to hustle and get everything yourself : the salt, and grain for the salt , etc.

We need initiative, drive, local commerce, and not begging: if someone gave it to me.... Shame!

Salut! Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
The Eighth Congress of Soviets, held front December 22 to 29, 1920, approved a 600 million pood plan for the extraction of coal in

Donbas in 1921.