V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v50;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

TO THE WORKERS’ AND RED ARMY MEN’S DEPUTIES

Dear Comrades,

I have received your document No. 24962 with an extract from the decision of the Presidium of October 7.

I am obliged to say in all conscience that this decision is so politically illiterate and so stupid that it makes one sick. “...The Presidium is compelled to divest itself of responsibility...” That is the way capricious young ladies behave, not grown-up politicians. You will not divest yourselves of responsibility; you will treble it.

If the Commissariat of Education does not answer you and does not fulfil its duty towards you, you are obliged to complain and to produce documents. Surely you are not children, not to understand that.

When did you complain? Where is the copy? Where are the documents and proofs?

In my opinion, the whole Presidium and Vinogradova should be put in prison for a week for their inactivity.

If the Commissariat of Education “does not issue busts” (when did you demand them? from whom? copy and document? when did you appeal?), you should have fought for your right. But to “divest yourselves of responsibility” is the manner of capricious young ladies and silly Russian intellectuals.

Forgive me for expressing my opinion so frankly, and accept communist greetings from one who hopes

that you will be taught a lesson by imprisonment for inaction of the authorities, and who is deeply indignant with you,

Lenin

October 12, 1918