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.

No. 145

G. E. Zinoviev - V. I. Lenin

[no later than February 4, 1922]

I showed my closer comrades the draft of your theses on the trade unions. We arranged a discussion in a close circle of comrades in a discussion club.

Professionals generally did not mind. There were only partial business objections. They attacked the thesis about strikes (at state-owned enterprises) 1 . Only a few of them seemed taken aback.

Milyutin delivered a stunning speech. The theses are the essence of "a mockery of the trade unions." Unions are completely eliminated from the economy. The Central Committee throws out the gnawed bone to the unions. He protests that such a question is being decided without a congress, and so on and so forth. Quite in the spirit of the worst of Moscow dignitaries. Grumbling, squabbling, criticism!

I. N. Smirnov said a precharacteristic speech. He is, generally speaking, a wonderful person and works well here. But sometimes he has specific "Moscow" moods.

He generally agreed with the theses. But he added the following fly in the ointment: of course, the Tseka-de cannot say everything aloud, but we, the old workers, must know: these theses are preparing a second position in case we lose Soviet power; we must especially ensure our connection with the masses even in this case...

Hello G. Zinoviev.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 5. Op. 2. D 17. L. 72-73. Autograph.

Notes:

1 See note 3 to document No. 144.

No. 146

G. V. Chicherin — Politburo of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party

February 6, 1922

In the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP.

At the moment when the Politburo rejected the release of 20 thousand gold rubles for the second Tibetan expedition, insufficient motivation was provided at its disposal. We were expecting the arrival of comrade. Shumyatsky for a more thorough clarification of the issue. As a result of my meetings with him, I am petitioning the Politburo to reconsider this issue and to release 20,000 gold rubles for the second expedition to Lhasa. The first expedition, sent by us in the autumn of 1921, should have already arrived in Lhasa and is preparing the ground there for further rapprochement and, in particular, for us to send gifts of a technical nature, which are of great interest to the Dalai Lama. The first expedition brought with them, as our gift to the Dalai Lama from the RSFSR, a radio station, which should serve as the basis for organizing communication with him. At that moment we did not have radio-telegraphers, who know the Tibetan language and who, due to their belonging to Lamaism, can be admitted to permanent residence in Lhasa. With great difficulty, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs managed to find people who knew the Tibetan language and belonged to the Lamaite peoples (Buryats and Mongols) and at the same time politically reliable and loyal. With great difficulty, they were able to teach them the complex art of radiotelegraphy. Our first expedition was to promise the Dalai Lama to send radiotelegraphers as a second expedition as soon as possible, that is, in the spring of 1922. But it is unacceptable to send only radiotelegraphers whom we have already trained. Yes, this would not justify the hopes placed on this expedition. The British emissaries worked hard to misrepresent Soviet Russia to the Dalai Lama as a country where only sands and crooks remained. At the same time, they portray the Soviet Government as cruelly persecuting Buddhism. The first expedition was aimed at initial contact with the Dalai Lama and did not include orientologists. Along with the second expedition, in addition to radio-telegraphers, also orientologists were supposed to go, who, together with the Mongolian comrades accompanying them, were supposed to disseminate correct views on Soviet Russia in Lhasa and strengthen its ties with Tibet.

These ties are, firstly, of political significance, since friendly relations with Lhasa are of great importance for the entire Buddhist world. But these ties are also of economic importance, since they will give us the opportunity for the first time to establish an exchange of goods with Tibet, and, in addition, to extremely revive the exchange of goods with all Buddhist countries. The receipt of raw materials from these countries, in particular livestock products, is of great importance for our entire balance of trade. We will not be able to fulfill our role as trade intermediaries between the Buddhist peoples of Asia and Europe without friendly relations with Lhasa.

The release of the 20,000 gold rubles required for this expedition is necessary as soon as possible, since the season of trips to Tibet, due to climatic conditions, is very short, will come soon.

Narkomindel Chicherin.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 5. Op. 2. D. 316. L. 38-39. Typewritten text. The signature is an autograph.