TO THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
November 23, 1921
Secret

Yesterday, the Council of People's Commissars forwarded the question of the contract with Steinberg to your commission. Today, in "Izvestia," Gorsky calculates that Steinberg will make 194 billion Soviet rubles from 100,000 kilos of saccharin (it will cost him 600,000 rubles per kilo, i.e., all 100,000 kilos will cost 60,000 million = 60 billion; % of profit means 194:60 = 323%).

If Gorsky's calculation is correct, then the profit is gigantic. It seems that the RSFSR has a share of the super-profit, considering profit above 250% as super-profit?

Could it be possible (1) to bargain so that we have a special share of the super-profit, considering super-profit 100 or 200%?

(2) to especially ensure ourselves the possibility of training our people (especially in Centrosoyuz) in the techniques and organization of trade?

(3) to especially ensure ourselves the possibility of terminating the contract early when we, the fools, learn from the clever people.

In my opinion, the contract should still be concluded, after bargaining a hundred times and checking a hundred times, because fools must pay a high price for learning.

I request a response.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin