V. I.

Lenin

280

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET

Presidium of the Moscow Soviet
Copies to Sorokin, Gubernia Statistical Bureau, Gubernia Economic Council
and Gubernia Trade Union Council

1. There is very great doubt about the correctness of
the data submitted to me by Sorokin today concerning the 30 per cent
reduction, [1]

2. There is equal doubt about it being right to carry
out the cuts, in the sense that the axe is being put to the
wrong groups. The reduction should fall on the enterprises
and establishments which are not absolutely essential.

3. Sorokin’s reference to there allegedly being no data
about the groups of enterprises and establishments which
are not absolutely essential shows that things at the
Gubernia Statistical Bureau, the Gubernia Trade Union
Council and the Gubernia Economic Council are extremely
unsatisfactory.

Please let me have exact data and a precise explanation
for tomorrow’s sitting of the Council of People’s Commissars
(26.VII.21).

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
A reference to the report from the Moscow Gubernia Food
Commissar P. S. Sorokin on the fulfilment by the Moscow
Consumers’ Commune of the C.P.C. decision of July 12, 1921, to reduce
by 30 per cent the number of persons on the supply list in view
of the grave food situation. On July 26, the C.P.C. set up a
commission to verify the work by the Moscow Consumers’ Commune.
It was authorised, in particular, to find out whether it was
expedient to remove from the ration list the categories of persons
as designated by the commune, or whether it was possible to
remove all non-working persons of Moscow.