The period immediately preceding the Tenth Party Congress, at which the transition to the New Economic Policy was decided, was characterised by the ever-increasing deterioration of the economic situation of the Soviet Republic—especially in the areas of food supply, transport, and fuel. The decline of the peasant economy as a result of war and blockade had reached extreme limits. On the basis of the ever-growing economic ruin, discontent with the Soviet government grew among the peasantry, also affecting certain strata of the workers. The political vacillations of the peasantry led to an open counter-revolutionary uprising of the petty-bourgeois element against the proletarian dictatorship (the Kronstadt mutiny). The grave internal situation of the Soviet Republic was complicated by an acute inner-party struggle begun by Trotsky. The Tenth Congress liquidated the inner-party discussion, rallying the overwhelming majority of the party around the “platform of the ten” (Lenin’s), and proclaimed the New Economic Policy, which restored the alliance of the proletariat with the peasantry and ensured the reconstruction of our industry and the entire economy as a whole.

Only an insignificant part of Lenin’s documents from the period “on the eve of the congress” has been preserved; nevertheless, they give some idea of the tense situation the country was experiencing and of the difficult conditions under which the work of the Soviet government and of Lenin proceeded during this period.

## TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE PETROGRAD GUBERNIA COMMITTEE

[February 2, 1921]

Yesterday the Council of Defence decided to buy 18½ million poods of coal abroad.
The food situation has improved, for today we decided to give two more trains of grain from the Caucasus.
Therefore, I think Zinoviev can go.

_Lenin_

## APPENDIX. TELEPHONE MESSAGE FROM S. ZORIN TO LENIN.

February 2, 1921, 15:00 hours.

Comrade Zorin from Petrograd asks to be urgently communicated to Vladimir Ilyich.

From conversations with Comrade Stalin regarding Comrade Zinoviev’s departure, it turned out that Comrade Zinoviev must go. Meanwhile, on the economic side, things in Petrograd are not particularly good—the mood is alarming. The Putilov Works have stopped work because the workers are not receiving their rations. The same situation prevails at the Baltic Works and at a whole series of others. The garrison is even worse off in terms of food supply. It owes Petrograd Commune 50,000 poods. Special efforts would be needed to organise fuel supply and general political leadership.

Meanwhile, in connection with the party discussion, leading comrades are absent—neither Comrade Evdokimov, nor Lashevich, nor Comrade Zinoviev is here. He considers it necessary to report that the absence of Comrades Zinoviev and Lashevich may have a bad effect on the general situation. He asks for an urgent communication of Vladimir Ilyich’s opinion on Comrade Zinoviev’s trip. The train leaves soon. He asks for an urgent reply.

## ON ACCELERATING THE MOVEMENT OF OIL, COAL AND FOOD SUPPLIES BY RAIL

## DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOUR AND DEFENCE

[February 9, 1921]

a) To organise a troika consisting of Comrade Smilga and, as his assistants, Comrades Eiduk and Ermakov, with the special task of putting in order and maximally accelerating the movement of oil, coal and food supplies along the Vladikavkaz Railway and the South-Eastern Railway.

b) To instruct Comrade Fomin to draft, by 12 o’clock today, the mandate for the appointed troika and to speak with Comrade Smilga by direct line (using the War Department line if necessary) about the adopted decree of the STO and the details of the troika’s appointment.

c) To instruct Comrade I. Smilga to submit to the STO brief telegraphic reports on the progress of the troika’s work twice a week. The form of these reports to be established in agreement with Comrade Fomin.

## NOTES ON THE SUPPLY OF MOSCOW AND PETROGRAD IN FEBRUARY 1921

Commission 10. II. 1921

1. Grain deliveries:
1–9.II 2,259 – 1,649 – 610 Difference (31. I – 9. II) Moscow node 700 70 per day
10–16. II.
will arrive (Moscow node) [008]
327 47 per day
Petrograd 189 (instead of 406)
(–218 Difference)
Fomin in Petrograd and Moscow

Only Moscow
6.72

7.73
11–12 155
8,139
13–14

286 : 3 = 95 wagons

and 16

For 7 days || 327 + 122 = 419 : 7 = 64 wagons |
{ 61 needed }