V. I.

Lenin

316

To:   G. V. CHICHERIN AND L. B. KAMENEV

In view of the fact that the low-down American hucksters are trying to create the impression that we could be
expected to cheat, I propose that we should immediately telegraph them
officially, on behalf of the government, over the signatures
of Kamenev and Chicherin (and if necessary Kalinin’s and
mine as well), the following:

we shall deposit with a New York bank an amount in gold constituting 120 per cent of what they will supply in
the course of a month for one million starving children and
sick persons. But in that case, considering such a complete
material guarantee, we stipulate that the Americans must
absolutely refrain not only from political but also from
administrative interference, and must make no claims whatsoever. This means that in that case all the terms of the
treaty giving them the least right to interfere even if only
administratively shall be void. On-the-spot check-ups are
to be made by parity commissions (representing our government and
them). [1]

This proposal will show the hucksters just where they stand, and subsequently disgrace them in the eyes of the
whole world.

We should not forget that we have never had rationing of any kind in the countryside. If we are to make no
mistake on this score, I suggest we invite someone from the
People’s Commissariat for Food to discuss the matter.

13/VIII-21

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
The telegram proposed by Lenin was sent to M. M. Litvinov to
Riga the same day, August 13, with some editorial changes.
Litvinov was negotiating with ARA on behalf of the Soviet
Government. See also this volume, Document 310.