STATE CAPITALISM

LENIN; On State Capitalism, During the Transition to Socialism

TO ARMAND HAMMER

Dear Mr. Armand Hammer!
Comrade Reinstein tells me you are leaving Moscow tonight. I am very sorry I am occupied at the session of the Central Committee of our Party. I am extremely sorry I am unable to see you once more and greet you.

Please be so kind and greet your father, Jim Larkin, Ruthenberg and Ferguson, all best comrades now in American goals. My best sympathy and best wishes to all them.
Once more best greetings to you and your friends in connection with flour for our workers and your concession. The beginning is extremely important. I hope it will be the beginning of extreme importance.

With best wishes, Yours truly, Lenin
P.S. I beg to apologies for my extremely bad English. Vol. 4.5, p. 368

From Draft Theses on THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE TRADE UNIONS UNDER THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICY
STATE CAPITALISM IN THE PROLETARIAN STATE AND THE TRADE UNIONS
The proletarian state may, without changing its own nature, permit freedom to trade and the development of capitalism only within certain bounds, and only on the condition that the state regulates (supervises, controls, determines, the forms and methods of, -etc.) private trade and private capitalism. The success of such regulation will depend not only on the state authorities but also, and to a larger extent, on the degree of maturity of the proletariat and of the masses of the working people generally, on their cultural level, etc. But even if this regulation is completely successful, the antagonism of class interests between labour and capital will certainly remain. Consequently, one of the main tasks that will henceforth confront the trade unions is to protect in every way the class interests of the proletariat in its struggle against capital. This task should be openly put in the forefront, and the machinery of the trade unions must be reorganized, changed or supplemented accordingly (conflict com- missions, strike funds, mutual aid funds, etc., should be formed, or rather, built up).
Written on December 30, 1921
January 4, 1922
Vol. 33, p. 185

TO A. M. LEZHAVA, P.A. BOGDANOV AND V. M. MOLOTOV FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBUREAU OF THE R.C.P.(B.) C.C.
: Comrades Lezhava, Bogdanov and Molotov (for Politbureau members)
January 23, 1922

I believe that it is absolutely necessary for us to accept Krupp's proposal just now, before the Genoa Conference.89 It would be immensely important for us to conclude at least one, and what would be even better, several concession contracts, with German firms above all. That is why there must be the most relentless struggle against the prejudice among the top section of the S.E.C. against concessions, whether involving oil, agriculture or anything else.

Lenin
Vol. 45, pp. 448-49

TO I. T. SMILGN

Comrade Smilga
Copies to Comrades N. P. Gorbunov and Smolyaninov
For considerations not only economic but also political, it is absolutely necessary for us to have a concession with the Ger- mans at Grozny, and if possible, at other fuel centres as well. If you sabotage this, I am going to regard it as a downright crime. We must act quickly to have some positive results before Genoa. Please reply. Briefly by telegram, details by letter.
Lenin
Dictated by phone on January 26, 1922 Vol. 45, p. 452

Typed on top of the text is the following: "Send in code through Krestinsky, with P.P. Gorbunov's special concern for accurate delivery."-Ed.

NOTE TO M. M. LITVINOV WITH A DRAFT REPLY TO F. R. MACDONALD
To Comrade Litvinov (or Comrade Chicherin)

Please look through my reply and have it translated into re fined and polite English (do any minor corrections yourself, we shall discuss major ones by phone). Has it typed on notepaper with my heading and send it to me for signing?

Dear Mr. Macdonald,
I am extremely grateful to you for your kind letter and your most flattering appreciation of the way you were received. I heard Comrade Krasin give an extraordinarily high assessment of your prominent role and outstanding ability in matters of industry and trade. All the more valuable for us do I consider your practical suggestion in that field. I deeply regret that illness pre- vents me from receiving you, the doctors having forbidden me even any conversation. I shall consider it a pleasant duty to write to Comrades Chicherin and Lezhava telling them to pay special attention and appoint the best experts to give the speediest businesslike and competent consideration to your practical suggestions, which are of great importance and profound interest to us.

I hope you will also be so kind as to excuse my delay in replying caused by my illness.
I am yours respectfully Translated from the text of
V. I. Lenin, Works, Fifth Russian Edit ion, Vol. 54, pp. 153-54 English translation © Progress Publishers 1982.

TELEGRAM TO THE TERRITORIAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH-EAST
To South-Eastern Territorial Economic Conference Copy to Salsk District Executive Committee)
Don Region

Krupp's Concession for 50,000 dessiatines, to deal with which People's --Commissariat for Agriculture representatives. Adamo-v1ch and another comrade, and Krupp's representatives Klette and Fulte, Zechgau, have left for your parts, is of enormous economic and political importance. You must do everything you can to help conclude the concession, and I shall regard as a crime any lack of zeal in this case. Telegraph execution in brief. Send all details by man. Lenin
Chairman, C.L.D.n Vol. 45, p. 513