V. I.

Lenin

298

LETTER TO D. I. KURSKY AND INSTRUCTION TO A SECRETARY

September 3

Comrade Kursky, People’s Commissar for Justice , and his deputy, and also all the members of the Collegium

Typed on headed notepaper to copies to

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(1) the addressee (2) me (3) Avanesov (4) Gorbunov and Smolyaninov

I have sent you through the Office Manager of the Council
of People’s Commissars a statement from Professor Graftio
with astonishing documents about red tape. [1]

This red tape is just what is to be expected, especially
in the Moscow and central institutions. But all the more
attention should be given to fighting it.

My impression is that the People’s Commissariat of
Justice is purely formal, i.e., radically wrong, in its
attitude to this question.

What is needed is:

(1) to bring this matter before the courts; (2) to secure the disgrace of those guilty, both in the
press and by strict punishment; (3) to stiffen up the judges through the Central
Committee, so that they punish red tape more severely; (4) to arrange a conference of the Moscow People’s
Judges, members of tribunals, etc., to work out effective
measures for fighting red tape; (5) without fail, this autumn and winter of 1921–22,
to bring up for trial in Moscow 4–6 cases of Moscow red
tape, selecting the more “vivid” cases, and making each
trial a political affair; (6) to find some, if only 2–3, sensible “experts” on
questions of red tape, among the more fierce and militant
Communists (get bold of Sosnovsky), so as to train people
to hound out red tape; (7) to publish a good , intelligent, non-bureaucratic letter
(a circular of the People’s Commissariat of Justice) on the
struggle against red tape.

I impose this most important task on the People’s
Commissar and his deputy, on their personal responsibility,
and request that I be given regular information as to its
fulfilment.

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

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Notes:
[1]
This refers to the decision of the Narrow Council of People’s
Commissars on the allocation of 2,000 million rubles for repairing
houses in Moscow, passed on October 21, 1921.