V. I.

Lenin

570

To:   THE HEADS OF CENTRAL SOVIET ESTABLISHMENTS

Dear Comrade:

It is necessary that an end should be put once and for all to the scandalous red tape and delays in your
establishment. Time and again, there is neither reply to nor
execution of the important and urgent matters being directed
to you by the C.P.C. office for the purpose of settling
the numerous complaints and applications addressed to the C.P.C. and its Chairman.

My suggestion is that you pull yourself together at once.
The machinery of Soviet administration must work accurately, smoothly and swiftly. Any slackness in it does
damage not only to the interests of individuals but to the
whole business of administration, which becomes illusory
and imaginary.

Assuming the real measure of labour productivity in each given establishment to be above all the extent to
which all business passing through it is actually executed
without delay, I demand that henceforth you submit the quickest and most exhaustive replies to all the cases and
inquiries directed to you. To confine yourself to formal
replies and dispatch to other establishments also means
breeding red tape and wasting paper.

I warn you that if this manner of action continues the
C.P.C. office is authorised to start proceedings against
the guilty persons without regard for “rank”.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

Chairman, C.P.C.

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