London

To the Delegation of the Soviet Government
Krasin

In December, the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade announced that eight million poods of grain had been purchased but not yet shipped. Having secured fresh credit, the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade undertook to deliver up to fifteen million poods of food grain by April 1st—five million poods per month. Yet as of January, not a single pood had been received; there is no information whatsoever regarding vessels that have been dispatched, nor concerning any forthcoming shipments. Given the extraordinarily dire food situation, I request that you report within two days: first, the total amount of grain that has been purchased; second, the quantity that has already been shipped, the vessels used, and the ports of destination; third, the volume and timing of upcoming shipments in the near future; and fourth, the plan for fulfilling the commitment to procure fifteen million poods*.

Chairman of the Sovnarkom – Lenin

Copies

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First published in 1959, in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from typewritten copy