Date: 1922-02-15
Source: ru:LS/v34

430
LENIN COLLECTION
It is therefore imperative that every effort be made to put it into practice as quickly and as broadly as possible. All general
speculations, theoretical musings, and verbal debates on the subject of the New Economic Policy should be relegated to discussion clubs—and, in part, to the press. Any such activity must be ruthlessly purged from the Sovnarkom, the Council of Labor and Defense, and all economic bodies. All commissions should be reduced to an absolute minimum, replacing commission-based deliberations with a strict requirement for written amendments or counter‑drafts from all concerned agencies within the shortest possible timeframe—1–2 days at most. The Supreme Economic Commission should be transformed into an exclusively codifying and consolidating body for economic governmental acts, eliminating, wherever possible, all so‑called “commission‑driven deliberations.” The Supreme Economic Commission must accelerate, rather than retard, the overall pace of work.
The Politburo demands of all People’s Commissars an unqualified maximum of speed, energy, and the eradication of bureaucracy and red tape in the practical implementation of the New Economic Policy; the Politburo also insists on the unconditional awarding of bonuses to as many responsible officials as possible—for their contributions to accelerating production and expanding both domestic and foreign trade. This demand applies first and foremost to the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade, followed by the State Bank (especially its Trade Department), the Central Cooperative Union, and the Supreme Council of National Economy.
After its adoption by the Politburo, the directive should be formally announced, with a signed receipt issued to each member of the collegial bodies of all People’s Commissariats and to every member of the Presidium of the All‑Union Central Executive Committee*.
28934
LETTER TO THE DEPUTY PEOPLE’S COMMISSAR FOR FINANCE
February 1, 1922
1)
Gorbunov has already spoken to you about Belov. My personal opinion of Belov is highly favorable—both from a party perspective and from a commercial standpoint.
In my view, if we fail to support such “our own” merchants, then all our talk will amount to nothing but empty words. We must hold those responsible—particularly within the State Bank—accountable for delays and bureaucratic inertia; otherwise, there will be no real progress.
(Gorbunov’s assessment.)
* Lenin’s draft directive on the implementation of the New Economic Policy was approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Party on January 16.
Regarding this directive, the Secretariat of the Sovnarkom recorded the following entry in Lenin’s Book of Instructions on January 20: “Ascertain where the… 

1921–1922
2) The theses on foreign trade have been languishing for far too long. I’ve long since set a deadline of 2–3 days.
We cannot afford to tolerate such delays any longer.
3) Have the forms and mechanisms of accountability been carefully considered for members of trust boards who submit inaccurate reports or conduct business in a manner that results in losses? Is the NKJus asleep at the wheel? Here, we need a series of exemplary legal proceedings, meted out with the severest penalties.
It seems the NKJus still does not fully grasp that the New Economic Policy calls for new methods—and for a whole new degree of rigor in imposing sanctions.
4) They say that in Smolensk Governorate, private capital has outstripped cooperative efforts, driving many cooperatives to closure.
But what of the courts’ handling of illegal trade?
And what of the tariffs levied on private commerce? And so on, and so forth.
Have Soviet bureaucrats once again slept through this opportunity?
Who among you is responsible for addressing these issues? Should we establish commissions—1) under the NKF, 2) under the NKJus, and 3) perhaps some other body—to oversee and enforce measures against improper trade practices and the like?
With communist greetings,
Lenin
LETTER TO THE PEOPLE’S COMMISSAR FOR LAND
February 15, 1922
On January 26, the Izvestia of the All‑Union Central Executive Committee published an article by Comrade A. Belyakov entitled “Yearning Engines and Proletarian Agriculture.”
I strongly recommend that you give this note your serious attention. It turns out that within the military department, 770 brand‑new engines—with complete spare parts, in perfect working order, and still sealed in their original overseas packaging—have been lying idle for five years, boasting a total output of roughly 117,000 horsepower and a value exceeding 14,000,000 pre‑war gold rubles. These engines are no longer suitable for the needs of the military department; they are now being transferred to the People’s Commissariat for Land, which had been drafting a directive concerning the People’s Commissariats… At the previous meeting of the Politburo, a three‑day deadline was set for finalizing the text.” This directive was handed to all People’s Commissars at the Sovnarkom session on January 21, 1922, pursuant to Lenin’s instruction: “Obtain signed receipts from the People’s Commissars confirming that they have received the Politburo’s directive on the NEP, that they have accepted it for implementation, and that they are fully aware of its confidential nature” (IMEL Archive, No. 44034).