Bolshevik Leaders correspondence

Bolshevik leadership Correspondence. 1912-1927
Collection of documents 1996.
Compiled by: A.V.Kvashonkin, L.P.Kosheleva, L.A.Rogovaya, O.V.Khlevnyuk.

M. M. Litvinov - V. M. Molotov, V. I. Lenin, L. D. Trotsky, L. B. Kamenev, I. V. Stalin, M. I. Kalinin, G. E. Zinoviev, K. B. Radek, P. A. Bogdanov

December 13, 1921.

Secretary of the Central Committee of the RCP Comrade. Molotov.

Copies: vols. t. Lenin, Trotsky, Kamenev, Stalin, Kalinin, Zinoviev, Radek, Bogdanov.

From negotiations with foreigners about concessions, it became quite clear that the subject of concessions could not be enterprises that belonged to private individuals or companies before the October Revolution and were nationalized by us. All concessionaires unanimously declare that they can take concessions only for enterprises that belonged to the state before the revolution. Since there are very few such enterprises, our concession policy is doomed to complete failure if my proposal, about which I wrote to the Central Committee several months ago and which, as I know it became known yesterday, is not even discussed, is not accepted. My proposal, approved by the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, boils down to the following: we announce that foreigners can receive, on a concession basis, enterprises that previously belonged to them on conditions having to be worked out by negotiations with the Soviet [sky] government. If the former owners of the enterprises do not file an application before the expiration of a certain period, say a year, the enterprises will be given to outsiders.

Applications will be accepted only from citizens of those countries whose governments maintain official relations with the Soviet Government.

Such a proposal will be a strong incentive to conclude agreements with us on the part of those countries that have so far evaded any negotiations with us, as well as for the former owners of enterprises in Russia themselves. And that these owners will do a better job with their familiar business than the new concessionaires, there is no need to prove.

It will not be in the least obligatory for us to give all foreign enterprises on concession, because in the event of our desire to leave one or another enterprise or even one or another branch of industry for the state, we can impose conditions unacceptable to the concessionaires.

Do not refuse to put it in the Politburo for discussion as soon as possible 1 .

With communist greetings, M. M. Litvinov.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 5. Op. 2. D. 224. L. 4-5. Typewritten text. The signature is a facsimile of Litvinov.

Notes:

1 No decisions on this issue could be found in the minutes of the Politburo.