V. I.

Lenin

464

MARKINGS ON A MEMO FROM AND LETTER TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Comrade Chicherin:

See letter,

p. 4
and over.

Lenin

October 22, 1921

Dear Vladimir Ilyich:

Today’s coded message from Comrade Krasin, a part of which has reached us, on Urquhart’s statements and campaign
shows that the matter is much more serious, and cannot be
explained solely by bluff designed to secure 5 per cent royalties
on the concessions. There has apparently been some disappointment over our new line. Naturally, in the establishment of
such a complex historic combination, as concessions to West
European capitalists under a Bolshevik government, the arranging of these combinations does not proceed smoothly or at
once. The more reason, therefore, for us to see to it that these

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frictions are overcome. I personally am quite unaware of the

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springs of our policy which caused a certain turn in our line

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at the end of August, so that I am altogether not competent to
say whether such a turn had been necessary....

Comrade Chicherin:

There was not the slightest shadow of a “turn in our line” in August (see page 1). We have never taken a pledge
and will never take a pledge not to arrest swindlers, not
to shoot plotters, riot to reject excessively greedy proposals by concessionaires.

On the debt question, I advise you to put through the
Politbureau the appointment of a commission (your candidates?) to check up on the state of work of the Groman
and Goikhbarg commissions.

I personally see nothing in “Krasin’s facts”, etc., except
Urquhart’s blackmail.

They will hazard an intervention in spring, if they can
force Poland: nothing can be done to prevent this except
strengthening our defence capacity.

Mikhalsky writes about new turns by Britain. What is the point there? What do you think? Is it that they are
afraid of Washington, and want to “placate” France and intimidate Russia?

Agreements and concessions with the Americans are of exceptional importance to us: we have something (not a
little) with Hoover. We almost have something with
Hammer . Amruss is on the way. [2]

Everything should be done (by you especially) to eliminate all friction (regrettable and harmful) between
Litvinov and
Martens. [1]

Yours,

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]