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. 180

G. L. Pyatakov - F. E. Dzerzhinsky

May 15, 1924

Chairman of the Supreme Economic Council of the USSR Comrade Dzerzhinsky.

Dear Felix Edmundovich!

I notice more and more that you and I have different methods of work in the organizational sphere. As far as I can ascertain, we have no fundamental differences in the field of industrial policy, and therefore you can hardly think of the impossibility of joint work: it seems to me that I do not spoil your policy with my work. But I am undoubtedly distorting your administrative and organizational line by my actions. I won't get into a discussion of whose method is better, naturally I think my method is better and you think yours is better. The important thing is that both you and I, we understand that we build differently: I, from your point of view, is a "schematic", you, from my point of view, are a "shrub". From this, practical conclusions must be drawn. I have such a good comradely attitude towards you and such great personal respect, that I would not want the further development of the embryonic conflict in us to lead to such a rupture that will be reflected both in deeds and in our personal relations with you. To do this, in my opinion, you and I do not need to collide on administrative and organizational grounds. You seem to appreciate me as an economist and do not approve of me as an organizer and administrator, so let's do this: you release me from "zamstva" and from Tsugprom, leave me a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council and entrust me with work that is completely unrelated to administrative and organizational functions. For example: the Economic Council, the market commission, the editorial [of the] newspaper, etc. Or, what would be even better for me, transfer me to a job where my administrative and organizational methods will not enter in conflict with yours:

Of course, I do not tell anyone about this and I believe that you, too, will keep my letter in complete secrecy until a decision is made.

Y. Pyatakov 1

RTSKHIDNI. F. 76. Op. 2. D. 168. L. 3. Autograph.

Notes:

1 . On the letterhead: "USSR. VSNKh. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE CENTRAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE INDUSTRY G. L. PYATAKOV.

No. 181

G. V. Chicherin to V. M. Molotov

May 17, 1924

Tov. MOLOTOV 1 .

Dear Comrade,

Is it possible to use the congress to provide at least some assistance to our afflicted apparatus. Now everyone around me devotes so much time to party affairs, and besides, the accurate execution of official duties is attested as bureaucracy, so that I am left to myself for a long time, I am worse served than in 1918, the chaos around me is growing, and the political interests of the Republic have already suffered several times . Some relief of this situation will be obtained if you manage to find comrades at the congress who know how to handle papers and understand them, and who are willing to enter such a place as a commissariat. In the current situation, I simply won’t actually be able to work for a long time, meanwhile, if my immediate entourage is made more numerous, it may be possible, at least partially, to organize work again, at least in the part of the apparatus closest to me. In such a case, it will probably be necessary to carry out an increase in the staff in the Soviet order, for which the help of the Central Committee will be needed. But I would beg you not to miss the moment of the Party congress in order to find comrades suitable for this purpose.

With communist greetings, Georgy Chicherin.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 17. Op. 68. D. 489. L. 247. Typewritten text. The signature is an autograph.

Notes:

1 . In the upper left corner of the letter, Molotov's autograph: "vol. Kaganovich! Comrade Chich[eri] must be helped, of course, not to take people from the congress. I ask Comrade Gordon to work more thoroughly on the issue of strengthening the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. 19/V. V. Molotov.