V. I.

Lenin

744

To:   J. V. STALIN

Comrade Stalin

I think this should be shown in strict secrecy (without
making any copies) to Dzerzhinsky and all the members of the Politbureau , and a directive issued: “Dzerzhinsky
( G.P.U. ) is authorised to work out, with Semashko’s assistance, a plan of measures and report to the Politbureau
within a period of ——— (2  weeks ?).” [1]

22/ V. Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
Written under the text of a note from N. A. Semashko, People’s
Commissar for Public Health, to members of the Politbureau
of the R.C.P.(B.) C.C. about = “ important and dangerous (Lenin’s
emphasis.— Ed. ) trends” in the medical world, which had come
to the surface at the Second All-Russia Congress of Medical
Sections under the C.C. of the Medical and Sanitary Workers’ Union
(held in Moscow from May 10 to 14, 1922). Reporting the
anti-Soviet speeches by some “top” doctors, who were Mensheviks
and S.R.s, Semashko said it was necessary to take resolute
measures against them.

On May 24, 1922, the Politbureau adopted Lenin’s proposal
instructing Dzerzhinsky and Semashko “to work out a plan of
measures and to report to the Politbureau within a week”
(Central Party Archives of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism of
the C.P.S.U. Central Committee).