V. I.

Lenin

791

To:   G. M. KRZHIZHANOVSKY

Comrade Krzhizhanovsky, State Planning Commission
Copy to Comrade Sokolnikov, People’s Commissariat for Finance

I am sending you copies of two letters from Comrade
Chubar, in which he argues that the decision of the Council
of Labour and Defence, of October 13, about Donbas has been overthrown by life
itself. [1]

The question should be urgently reviewed in full, with the participation of the People’s Commissariat for Finance
and the All-Russia Central T.U.C. It is necessary, at all
costs, to find a solution for all questions, ensuring the
normal operation of Donbas, and making it independent of the continued decline in the ruble’s rate.

I consider this to be of exceptional urgency and request
the State Planning Commission specially to concentrate on
this work. [2]

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

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Notes:
[1]
A reference to the C.L.D. decision of October 13, 1922. telling
prices for fuel for planned consumers.

In his letters, V. Y. Chubar, head of the State Coal Industry
of Donbas, pointed out the discrepancy between the established
firm price for coal and the declining rate of the ruble, adding that
the Slate Planning Commission’s calculations lagged behind life
and placed the industry in an impossible situation. He requested
a settlement of this question.

[2]
On Lenin’s instruction, the State Planning Commission submitted to the Council of Labour and Defence a report on the financing
of Donbas. This question was discussed by the C.L.D. on
November 15 and 17, 1922, and by the C.P.C. on November 24, The
C.P.C. noted the especial importance of regular operations in
the coal and oil industry for the country’s economy, and
recognised the need “firmly to provide these branches of the fuel industry
with the full amount of real funds required for the implementation
of their production programme, and for that purpose to establish,
by way of exception, special terms of payment for coal and oil”
( Sobranie uzakonenii i rasporyazhenii rabochego i krestyanskogo pravitelstva , No. 79, 1922, p. 993).