V. I.

Lenin

754

To:   J. V. STALIN FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBUREAU OF THE R.C.P.(B.) C.C. ON REJECTING THE AGREEMENT WITH LESLIE URQUHART

12/IX.

Comrade Stalin:

Having read Krasin’s agreement with Urquhart, I express my objection to its approval. While promising
earnings for us within two or three years, Urquhart is taking
our money just now. This is absolutely inadmissible.
Mikhailov, chairman of the commission, who had made a special on-the-spot study of the Urquhart concession, has
proved that it is not we but the foreigners who are guilty
of the destruction. And after this it is we who have to pay! I
We shall allegedly obtain relief within X years, but we
ourselves have to start paying right away!

I propose that this concession be rejected .

This is bondage and plunder.

I remind you of the conclusion of the Mikhailov commission. It was against the concession.

Not a single serious argument has been added. It should
be rejected.

I ask you to communicate this to the Politbureau members.

With communist greetings,

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

P.S. It is a ruse to say that this concession will not be
a precedent.

It is bound to be and is sure to be a precedent. That is
how it is sure actually to shape out regardless of all the
talk and assurances.

And in general, absolutely no account has been taken of everything uncovered by the Mikhailov commission.
There are a number of arguments against such a concession.

Lenin

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