Letters to V. M. Molotov for the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on the Steinberg Concession
January 17, 1922
To Comrade Molotov, for the Politburo
I am enclosing Lezhava’s report on the Steinberg concession.
I request that this matter be placed before the Politburo on Thursday, so that on Friday the Sovnarkom may, in accordance with Soviet procedure, implement the Central Committee’s resolution No. 151.
Let us appoint two rapporteurs for the Politburo on this issue: A. D. Tsyurupa and a representative of the majority within the Sovnarkom.
This is an important matter, and I am deeply concerned that the majority within the Sovnarkom—acting once again in the spirit of “communist arrogance”—is making a mistake: they fear to grant income to a merchant who knows how to trade, while obsessing over one single concern—the majority for the communists, most of whom are rather stingy when it comes to money, yet never hesitate to indulge in alcoholic beverages.
I draw attention to § 5: three communists—ignorant of commerce? I know of only two communists who have demonstrated any real aptitude for trade: Belov (GUM) and Serg. Malyshev—will be tasked with teaching two merchants the art of trade.
I fear that this “majority” will resemble the midwives of Shchedrin’s tales.
Perhaps we could amend § 5 as follows: Grant Steinberg, as chairman, the authority to decide all matters unilaterally, while conferring upon the majority of the board only the right to be fully informed of all proceedings and to appeal Steinberg’s actions without suspending them (that is, formally, the majority of three against two would retain the right to overturn Steinberg’s decisions—but we would make it clear to him that, unless the Council of Labour and Defence issues a special ruling, we shall not revoke his decisions).

Letters to the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on the Steinberg Concession
And let us assign to the three communists, by a special decision of the Central Committee, the duty to study—and to master their craft—within roughly three years; otherwise, we shall expel them in disgrace.
Lenin
First published in 1959 in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from manuscript

To Comrade Molotov (for the members of the Politburo), to Comrade Tsyurupa, and to Comrade Lezhava, with a request for their comments.
Today, the Council of Labour and Defence is holding a plenary session. Perhaps it would be possible, rather than postponing the matter, to adopt the following proposal regarding the Steinberg concession—by telephone (a resolution of the Politburo, binding upon the Council of Labour and Defence): “Adopt the proposal of the Lezhava Commission, with the following addition: Steinberg, as a member of the board, shall act independently, and the resolutions of the majority of the board—three board members, one Steinberg, one capitalist—may, without suspending Steinberg’s orders, only be referred to the Council of Labour and Defence.” 152
This addition should be adopted by the Council of Labour and Defence, but not incorporated into the board’s charter. In this way, by informing Steinberg of this resolution, we will, on the one hand, create the opportunity for a man who understands commerce not from communist pamphlets but from practical experience to conduct business in a truly commercial manner; and on the other hand, in the event of any wrongdoing on Steinberg’s part, we will ensure that we can rescind our own decision through the Council of Labour and Defence—without necessitating any changes to the Society’s charter. I believe that such a guarantee is entirely sufficient.
Lenin
Dictated over the telephone on January 23, 1922
First published in 1959 in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the secretary’s record