V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v52; en:CW/CW45;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

June 22, 1921

Comrade Martens,

I must reproach you for having sent the papers on the American colonies in Russia to the wrong address.\(^{429}\)

I read them only on June 20. You should not have sent them through Bukharin, but should have formulated practical proposals in Russian in 20 lines and sent them to the Council of Labour and Defence, with a copy to me personally, accompanied by a short letter.

The delay was due to the wrong address.

On the substance. I am in favour, provided the American workers and colonists in general bring with them:

1) food supplies for two years (you write that this has been done before; consequently, it is possible);

2) clothing for the same period;

3) implements of labour.

Item 1 (and 2) is most important. The 200 dollars are less important. If item 1 is provided, I agree to give every support.

To expedite matters, immediately draft a decision of the Council of Labour and Defence and submit it today (if you can manage it before 3 p.m.),

and today, at 6 p.m., we shall decide; if you are late, submit it at 6 p.m. all the same, we shall set up a commission and decide on Friday, June 24.

Draft decision: 1) conditions—the three enumerated above; 2) you are in charge (you + one American worker + one from the People’s Commissariat for Labour?); 3) we give assistance (provide land, timber, mines, etc.); 4) financial relations such and such.

Please reply by the bearer.

Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars,
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

P.S. After writing this letter I saw that the question is on the agenda of the Council of Labour and Defence today. I request you to work out the points I have indicated.\(^{430}\)