V. I.

Lenin

145

To:   A. M. LEZHAVA

Comrade Lezhava:

Georgia is of exceptional importance as a cover for
Russia’s foreign trade. This is convenient also for Italy,
and Germany , and America.

1) Find a brainy fellow to be sent there on behalf of
the People’ s Commissariat for Foreign Trade. Do it as fast
as you can!

2) Have a more detailed talk about this with Stalin.
Do this today.

3) Drop me a couple of lines on the results.

We need a plan (and a fund) for foreign trade via Batum.

You have no foreign trade plan. You are allowing a lot of waste and letting others do the same. I am going
to fight you.

Here’s your line : not a kopek more for foodstuffs or for
fuel in 1921. Draw up a plan on this line, and do not succumb to “pressures” or “influences”.

Lenin

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