V. I.

Lenin

606

To:   I. T. SMILGA [1]

Comrade Smilga

Copies to Comrades N. P. Gorbunov and Smolyaninov

For considerations not only economic but also political,
it is absolutely necessary for us to have a concession with
the Germans at Grozny, and if possible, at other fuel centres as well. If you sabotage this, I am going to regard it
as a downright crime. We must act quickly to have some positive results before Genoa. Please reply. Briefly by
telegram, details by letter. [2]

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
Typed on top of the text is the following: “Send in code through
Krestinsky, with P. P. Gorbunov’s special concern for accurate
delivery.”— Ed.

[2]
On January 31, 1922, I. T. Smilga, reporting his and B. S.
Stomonyakov’s talk with representatives of the Deutsche Bank
about oil concessions, wrote: “...We have agreed in principle to
negotiate on the whole of Grozny and on the Bibi-Eibat district in
Baku.” Smilga requested instructions about the term of the talks.
In order to expedite this matter, Smilga suggested that the right
to sign the agreement should be vested in him, N. N. Krestinsky,
A. I. Rykov and B. S. Stomonyakov, with subsequent
confirmation by the C.P.C. The letter was also signed by Krestinsky
(Central Party Archives of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism of
the C.P.S.U. Central Committee).