as if we are against this group. We are entirely for it and will give it preference if it does not delay itself and force us, against our fervent desire, to give the business to competitors. Don't believe the gossip. Conduct the business
independently and quickly. We will sign the contract in Moscow only if your concessionaires stop the red tape and quickly provide a draft contract acceptable to us.
Signed as read
Somebody
1 On August 31, 1921, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the party heard the question of directives to the representative of the RSFSR in Germany
V. L. Kogsh on special work in Berlin and adopted a resolution -
to approve.
It concerned the organization of negotiations with German industrial firms on the conclusion of trade and concession agreements. Negotiations were conducted through trade representatives of the RSFSR in Germany V. L. Kopp,
B. S. Stomonyakov, V. L. Shklovsky, V. V. Starkov, and others.
20567
NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN 1
[August, 1921]
To Chicherin
Secret
Comrade Chicherin!
It is necessary to accelerate in every possible way (according to the telegram (Kopp) regarding
the "X" proposals) the departure (it seems, Peters 2). For the German offer (Peters + a grain concession in the Kuban) is of paramount importance to us. Accelerate in every possible way. Drop me 2 words.
With communist greetings, Lenin
1 This refers to the economic negotiations of V. L. Kopp with a group of representatives from five major industrial banks and companies in Germany, who formed a "consortium." This group set itself the task of
putting several factories in Petrograd into operation to repair locomotives and
agricultural machines, as well as setting up warehouses in Moscow
and Petrograd.
2 Ya. Kh. Peters was travelling to Germany to develop a production program for the concession.