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. 199

F. E. Dzerzhinsky - V. V. Kuibyshev

February 1, 1926

To the Chairman] TsKK comrade Kuibyshev

Copy.

T. Milyutin informed me that he had filed a complaint with the Central Control Commission against my attack on him in the Council of People's Commissars [of the] canteen. I told Comrade M[ilyutin] approximately the following: “I must tell you that I consider your actions to be wrong, disorganizing and caused not at your initiative, but at someone else’s orders.” For the first two statements (actions) incorrect and dis[organizational]), I had and still have enough data, of course, enough for me, if for the so-called. M[ilyutin], otherwise he would not have acted in the way he did*. As for the third one (on [another's] order), it was caused by my suspicions[s] in connection with various accusations[s] against the Supreme Council of National Economy, but, of course, it was not substantiated in any way[by them] provable d[anna]mi. This attack was made by me on the basis of suspicions only.

In order to avoid unnecessary [...] 1 , I am ready to take back this last part of my words (at someone else's orders) and take it back, and I will not mind if the Central Control Commission punishes me for these words, since they were said by me. As for my accusations that I consider Comrade M[ilyutin's] actions to be “irregular and dis[organizing]” — I can’t take this back, because I consider them to be such for many reasons and I can prove it not on suspicion but on facts.

1/II-26

F.D. 2

RTSKHIDNI. F. 76. Op. 2. D. 31. L. 1. Autograph.

Notes:

1 Unclear.

2 On the letterhead: “USSR. Chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

No. 200

Telegram of I. V. Stalin to G. K. Ordzhonikidze

February 1, 1926

Filed from Moscow on 1/II-26.

Received and deciphered 1/II [1926]

TIFLIS, ZAKKRAIKOM VKP(b),

comrade ORJONIKIDZE.

Got everything. We'll talk about Kirov after he arrives at the Plenum of the Central Committee in March 1 . Things are going well for us. I think I'll go on a short vacation in two weeks, I'm very tired.

I. STALIN

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 2756. L. 1. Typewritten text.

Notes:

1 We are talking about the return of Kirov from Leningrad to Baku to his former post of secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Party (See document No. 205).

No. 201

F. E. Dzerzhinsky - V. V. Kuibyshev

February 5, 1926

Tov. Kuibyshev.

At the same time, the protocol of the meeting of the Presid[ium] of the Supreme Economic Council with the Transcaucasians 1. It was on the issue of paragraph 7 of the Protocol. The wording of the decision was given by Pyatakov, who strongly objected to the adoption of a final decision without verification. The Transcaucasians declared that they were allocating, I think, 500,000 rubles for this purpose “out of their own funds,” demanding from us, I think, 400,000 rubles. They did not say where they got "their" funds from, and we could not ask them and suspect that they would turn to the SNKom for these funds. I must add that Comrade Pyatakov was at that meeting very cruel and stingy with promises to the Transcaucasians and their other demands, and that I was much more liberal and gentle. Aleksey Ivanovich made a mistake in this case both in address (by naming Pyatakov) and in substance. Then, we must remember how Comrade Pyatakov's statement was written: he did it immediately at a meeting of the Politburo after Comrade Pyatakov's speech. Rykov and after he was not given the floor to make a statement. He did not write for a squabble, because he did not leave a copy of his application, but he wrote it right away, showing me what he wrote, asking for my advice on whether to submit this application. I said that it should be introduced, since I considered Comrade Rykov's statement a misunderstanding that should be dispelled. I am sure that the phrase about the investigation meant finding out the truth, and not squabble and litigation2 .

5/II 26

F. Dzerzhinsky 3 .

RTSKHIDNI. F. 79. On. 1. D. 431. L. 3. Autograph.

Notes:

1 Not preserved in the file.

2 We are talking about a conflict at a meeting of the Politburo, the essence of which, due to the fact that the transcripts of the meetings were not kept, could not be clarified. Perhaps this clash happened the day before, at a meeting of the Politburo on February 4th. It was attended by Rykov, and Dzerzhinsky, and Pyatakov. Rykov, as follows from the protocol, spoke on questions of foreign exchange intervention and on the export-import and foreign exchange plan for the second quarter. (RTSKHIDNI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 545. L. 3-4).

3 On the letterhead: “USSR. Chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

No. 202

K. E. Voroshilov — G. K. Ordzhonikidze

February 6, 1926

February 6, 1926

Dear Sergo!

Thanks for your letter. Delayed the answer due to the damned hustle, which is literally intoxicating. The trouble is with our brother, the proletarian, for whole days you rush about to the point of insanity, but it seems that things stand still and ... in a filthy place ...

In Leningrad, we really did a great job. The success is complete, but not unexpected. From the day of our arrival and detailed acquaintance with the situation, we saw that the opposition, fortunately for us, was slipping on the surface. The lower ranks of the party were not aware of the ongoing process of withdrawal of the Leningrad [organization] (gradually) from the party. The bosses thought that we would begin our reports with the assets, where we were prepared for both due meeting and certain failure. When we moved through the plants and factories, the busilers were completely at a loss. After that, the "leaders" could not get into the "tone", and we thrashed, giving neither rest nor time. There were many great episodes. During the 16 days spent in L[eningra]de, I literally rejuvenated, I had to go through so many moments reminiscent of [the events of 1904], [190]5-[190]7.

Now everything is calm with us and only occasionally, as after a big storm, a fresh sound of wind will sweep through, but it will immediately subside.

A little bit of our Felix is "hammered" by the "arrogant" chairman. There was a discussion about this in a close circle. F[elix] complained and asked for rest . The soil is severe difficulties with currency, imports, etc. I think everything will be settled, although I really don’t like the symptoms. I personally spoke with Kob[oy], the results are insignificant. There is nothing special about Voenved. Our estimate is already ugly shredded. Lashev [ich] was ill for more than a week, and now he is doing something somehow.

Our (military) affairs are worse than we imagine. It will be necessary to take on something big, but it’s hard to say what exactly, we’ll wait and find out.

At the next Plenum , 2 fights are not expected, as if, but in general, during this year, I think one cannot do without fights. Kirych works well in St. Petersburg, but his soul is in oil and, of course, he would spit 30 [degree] frost in the face with pleasure and rush to his “fragrant” and alluring Baku.

To friends - Eliava, Amayak, Orakhelashvili, Lavrentiy and others - hello.

I shake your hand, your Voroshilov 3 .

RTSKHIDNI. F. 85. Op. 25. D. 93. L. 3-6. Autograph.

Notes:

1 We are talking about the conflict between Dzerzhinsky and the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR Rykov. In the Dzerzhinsky fund, an extensive letter from Dzerzhinsky addressed to Stalin dated December 3, 1925, marked Dzerzhinsky "did not send." Dzerzhinsky wrote about the numerous problems of managing the economy and asked for his resignation: “In connection with the situation created for industry and the Supreme Council of National Economy, I must ask the Central Committee for my resignation, since in the current situation I am not able to successfully manage industry. We have neither a correct plan, nor a single plan for the entire Soviet economy, nor a single operational leadership in the economic field, nor a single link between different branches. On this basis, we are advancing with rapid steps towards partial crises, which, as they grow further and further, will widen and may turn into a most serious crisis if the necessary measures are not taken by the Party as soon as possible. I personally, not being a politician and not being able to raise issues in a timely manner so that they are considered and resolved by the party in a timely manner (I raised more than once, and more than once, but almost always they surrendered for elaboration, coordination, etc., and as a result questions and are still being worked out), I become an obstacle in the position of chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of National Economy for the quick and timely resolution of issues, and therefore there is nothing left for me but to ask for resignation, and I am sure that if Vladimir Ilyich were alive, he would satisfy my request [...]” (“Communist”, 1989, no. 9, pp. 82-84). Most likely, at the meeting, which Voroshilov writes about, it was about the problems that Dzerzhinsky raised in his unsent letter to Stalin.

2 The next plenum of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks took place on April 6-9, 1926 and was devoted to economic issues.

3 On the letterhead: "People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR."

No. 203

V. V. Kuibyshev to F. E. Dzerzhinsky

February 1, 1926

T. Dzerzhinsky

Felix! First of all, I want to correct one formal explanation, about which I let you [know] by telephone, about the meeting arranged by Comrade Milyutin. I told you that he convened this meeting with my consent, fulfilling my instructions to clarify the plan for the expansion of industry. I denied in the conversation the existence of a commission on this issue. There really is no commission on this question, but I forgot that there is a commission of the Presidium of the Central Control Commission on the general economic situation, set up by the presidium of the Central Control Commission to work out the whole question for the plenum of the Central Committee.. This commission distributed the work among the members: Stetsky - imports, Yakovlev - exports, Zangvilt - money circulation and currency, V. Larin - trade and grain procurements, Chutskaev - budget, Milyutin and Goltsman - industry. When Comrade Milyutin gave me the composition of the meeting for my signature, I thought that it was only about fulfilling my instructions and forgot that our commission (under my chairmanship) gave Milyutin the same task. Thus, Comrade Milyutin convened this meeting as a member of the commission of the Presidium of the Central Control Commission in order to clarify the questions entrusted to him by the commission, but I did not inform you exactly.

But this is not so important: and on the condition that Comrade Milyutin carried out the instructions of the Central Control Commission, he should not, under the circumstances that have arisen, draw conclusions in the presence of your subordinates, he should have limited himself to clarifying the issue, and report his presumptive conclusions to the commission, which should (under my direction) work through the entire question of the economic situation, linking all the separate parts of the general problem. But, admitting Comrade Milyutin's mistake, I can by no means agree with the harsh assessment that you gave to his behavior in a conversation with me, and then in a conversation with him personally.

In terms of content, his conclusions and all his behavior on the commission were not in the nature of deliberate nitpicking, and most importantly, all the circumstances indicate that your accusation of him that he was carrying out someone else's order, it seems to me, has not been confirmed.

And if so, then all your conclusions are wrong. Tov. Milyutin filed an application with the Central Control Commission to arraign you for insult. How to end this story? She's useless. This is not the way to solve your problem. And all the data for the fact that he decides for the common good.

V. Kuibyshev.

1/II

RTSKHIDNI. F. 76. Op. 2. D. 31. L. 2. Autograph.

Notes:

1 See note 2 to document No. 202.

No. 204

CM Kirov — G. K. Ordzhonikidze

February 13 [1926]

Dear Sergo!

I received your letter. Thank you for not forgetting, I think it will continue to be the same. Yesterday we finished the conference, and thus ended our initial work against the opposition. Today there was a plenum of the Gubkom, they elected a secretariat, a bureau, etc. Things are going well in this respect. It is bad and very bad that a new fight is unfolding on the basis of incredible parochialism. T. Lobov was taken to Moscow 1 , here it causes huge opposition and a fight. In a word, that disunity from the Central Committee, which you know about, turned out to be much deeper. All this must be disentangled. It turns out that I suffered the most. Ear work. Haven't had a chance to get a good night's sleep yet. In general, of course, now it is somewhat easier. Such things, brother. Bukharin enjoyed great success at conferences here, and my Countryman 2 had very little success.. The conferences went well overall. The discussion is fed up, if you wake me up at night, I will tell you very smoothly about the construction of socialism, the NEP, and so on. One of these days I will write in more detail, but now I can’t. Hello to all friends. Hi Zina. I kiss you. S. Kirov 3 .

RTSKHIDNI. F. 85. Op. 25. D. 119. L. 1-2. Autograph.

Notes:

On January 21, 1926, the Politburo accepted Dzerzhinsky's proposal to appoint Lobov chairman of the Supreme Economic Council of the RSFSR. This decision was subject to registration within a month (RTSKHIDNI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 541. L. 5).

2 K. E. Voroshilov.

3 On the letterhead: "The Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party (Bolyn.)".