V. I.

Lenin

725

To:   V. S. DOVGALEVSKY

Comrade Dovgalevsky
Copy to the C.P.C. Managing Department

Comrade Dovgalevsky:

I read in Izvestia today that the Nizhni-Novgorod City
Soviet has petitioned the All-Russia C.E.C. to award the
Order of the Red Banner of Labour to the Nizhni-Novgorod
Radio Laboratory, and to enter the names of Prof.
Bonch-Bruyevich and Prof. Vologdin on the Honour Board.

Let me know your opinion. I, for my part, would consider
it necessary to support the petition.

Incidentally, in connection with your letter to me, please
let me know whether you are quite satisfied with the work
of the Nizhni-Novgorod Radio Laboratory; also send me, if possible, the briefest comment from Bonch-Bruyevich
about the progress of his work in making the megaphones
capable of broadcasting to the masses what comes in over
the wireless telephone. This work is of exceptional importance for us because its success, which Bonch-Bruyevich
promised long ago, would be of enormous benefit to agitation and propaganda.

It is necessary, therefore, to make some sacrifices to back this work. In particular, I have heard that in
America such work has already resulted in practical success.

There should be a check to see whether the
Nizhni-Novgorod Radio Laboratory has at its disposal all the latest
American literature on this question.

Please let me have your opinion as soon as possible, to give me time, in case of need, to sign any required
communication or petition at the All-Russia C.E.C. session
which opens tomorrow. [1]

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

Also please inform me in a separate confidential letter
about some of the details of Nikolayev’s removal from the office of head of the radio department to another post;
and also about what qualification Comrade Trofimov, who, I believe, is now in charge of the department, has for doing
so; also about the qualification of the specialist who is
directly responsible for this work at the central department. [2]