V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v44;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

PREFACE TO THE PAMPHLET “ON THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICY (TWO OLD ARTICLES AND ONE STILL OLDER AFTERWORD)”

In the spring of 1919 I once had to deliver a report to the Petrograd workers. The report, as usual, was taken down. It was taken down, as usual, very badly—or perhaps not so badly, but I spoke, as usual, badly. The report, badly taken down or badly delivered, was, as usual, published.

Knowing only too well and feeling only too keenly all this “bad” and all this “as usual”, I sent the Petrograd comrades the following “afterword” to my report at the time (the report was published, if my memory does not fail me, under the title: “The Achievements and Difficulties of the Soviet Government”):

“AFTERWORD

Having spent no little effort on correcting the record of my speech, I am compelled to address an earnest request to all comrades who wish to record my speeches for publication.

The request is: never rely on any shorthand or any other record of my speeches, never try to get them recorded, never publish records of my speeches.

Instead of records of my speeches, if there is need for it, let them print reports on them. I have seen in the newspapers

such reports on my speeches which were satisfactory. But I have never once seen a record of my speech that was even passably satisfactory. Why this happens I do not undertake to judge, whether from the excessive rapidity of my speech, or from its incorrect construction, or from something else, but the fact remains a fact. I have never yet seen a single satisfactory record of my speech, either shorthand or any other. A good report of a speech is better than a bad record of it. Therefore I request: never print any records of my speeches. 17. IV. 1919. //. Lenin.”

This afterword was sent by me to Petrograd with the following postscript: “I earnestly request the Petrograd comrades to print the following as a preface or as an afterword to my speech, even if in the smallest type. 17. IV. Lenin.”

The reader sees with what caution, almost in a fawning tone, I begged the Petrograd comrades to print these few lines “even if in the smallest type”. As usual, the Petrograders—headed by Comrade Zinoviev—... how shall I put it more mildly? ... “did me in”. As usual, the Petrograders are extremely fond of showing their independence and self-reliance at all costs—even to the extent of not complying with the request of an author, which is binding on all other people, comrades and citizens, in all countries and all republics, even Soviet republics (with the exception of independent Petrograd). When, seeing that the Petrograders had not complied with my request, I complained bitterly to Comrade Zinoviev, the latter, as usual, replied to me: “The thing is done, it cannot be remedied now, and besides, how could we print an afterword in which you disparage your own pamphlet.” Thus to ... “independence” was added cunning, and I was finally left in the lurch.

Recently the story of badly delivered or (and perhaps “and”) badly recorded speeches was repeated: these were my speeches at the Second All-Russia Congress of Political Education Departments and at the Moscow Gubernia Party Conference *.

Taught by bitter experience, I now decided to act in a less “fawning” manner. I searched my archives for my old preface of 17. IV. 1919 and am publishing it as a preface to my two articles. I am not reprinting either of the two speeches mentioned for the reason given above.

Let truth triumph—better late than never. And it will triumph in many senses: in that the Petrograders will be punished, at least to a small degree for their guilt, for excessive “independence” and for cunning; and in that the reading public will at last know, with the greatest accuracy, clarity and tangibility, the full extent of the worthlessness of the records of my speeches; and in that those interested in my views on one of the main tasks of the moment in the sphere of our “new economic policy” will receive a fully accurate text of what I really wanted to say and really did say.

N. Lenin
November 16, 1921.