To Comrades Enukidze, Karpinsky, Dzerzhinsky, Zalutsky, Mikhailov, Molotov
Dear Comrade!
From the work of the Sovnarkom’s reception office—handling complaints and petitions—it has become clear that, in particularly serious and urgent cases, the application of “living connection” proves highly beneficial: namely, direct personal appeals to individual Party comrades who hold relatively influential positions at the local level. By doing so, we can significantly shorten the inevitable delays inherent in the usual bureaucratic channels—and, more broadly, enhance the effectiveness of the measures required.
A prime example is the case involving the terrorist activities of a kulak “nest” that had insinuated itself into both Soviet power and the Party in the (new) Elansky District of Saratov Governorate. Within a mere ten-day period, we received a reply telegram from the Plenipotentiary Representative of the VChK in the Volga Region—summoned through this very “comradely” procedure—stating that “all measures have been taken to identify those responsible.” Similar results have been achieved in other cases as well.
However, the full development of this method is possible only when we possess a thorough understanding of the actual composition of responsible personnel at the local level. Therefore, we respectfully request that you promptly compile and send to the address of the Sovnarkom’s reception office—Vozdvizhenka 4—the relevant lists of comrades whom you deem especially well suited for such “pressure”—reliable comrades with substantial experience, drawn from among members of executive committees, provincial Chekas, and the like—no more than one or two per governorate.
Chairman of the Sovnarkom, V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

LETTER ON THE APPLICATION OF “LIVING CONNECTION”
P.S. It is essential to secure the utmost guarantee of these comrades’ integrity—namely, to verify their service record in both Party and Soviet institutions as thoroughly as possible, and to obtain personal guarantees of absolute honesty from several veteran Party members.
3/XII. – 21
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)
First published in 1933 in the Lenin Collection, Volume XXIII

Printed from a typewritten copy signed by V. I. Lenin