Marx-Engels | Lenin | Stalin | Home Page
Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931–19361936 - October
For the industrial development of the country, 1936 was the most successful of all the 1930s. With the exception of coal and oil, all branches of industry progressed rapidly. According to official data, the production of heavy industry increased by 30%. Arms production, according to modern estimates, has increased by at least 60%. This pace contrasted sharply with 1935, when the military industry lagged behind the rest of the industry due to the difficulties of transition to new technologies. Almost as high as in heavy industry was the increase in the production of consumer goods - by 27%. It was a year of rising living standards for a considerable part of the urban population.
The registration logs for visitors to Stalin's office recorded a pass from August 14 to October 25, 1936.
Stalin to Kaganovich, Molotov October 1, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 2. Autograph.
Moscow. CC ON. Kaganovich. Molotov.
Your 22 agrees.
Litvinov's speech was good.
Stalin.
#47
1/X-36 1
_____________________
1 Number and date entered by the secretary. On the same day sent in code from Sochi at 13:00. 50 min. (Ibid. L. 1).
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin October 2, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 8. Original. Typescript.
Telegram.
From Moscow 2/X - 36 at 20:00. 20 minutes.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
The Kursk Regional Committee asks to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 4,725,000 poods, reduce grain deliveries by 2,000,000 poods, defer all arrears in payment in kind in the amount of 1,762,000 poods, defer loan arrears by 500,000 poods, reduce the plan for grain procurement by 8,987,000 poods in excess of what In the Kursk region, the grain procurement plan has already been reduced by 6 million poods.
We plan to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 3,700,000 poods, to reduce grain deliveries by 1,000,000 poods, to defer the collection of arrears in payment in kind by 1,000,000 poods, to postpone the repayment of loans by 200,000 poods, and in this way to reduce the grain procurement plan by 5,900,000 poods.
After the reduction projected by us, the grain procurement plan for the Kursk region will remain at 42,928,000 poods against the actual procurements last year of 57,862,000 poods.
Please let us know your opinion 1 . HP 23.
Kaganovich, Molotov.
____________________
1 Stalin agreed on October 3 in a cipher from Sochi at 2 p.m. 52 min. (Ibid. L. 7).
Kaganovich to Stalin October 2, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 12. Original. Typescript; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 55. L. 91. Typewritten text with corrections by Kaganovich.
Encryption.
From Moscow 2/X - 36 at 22 o'clock. 31 min. In. No. 41.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
Tov. Voroshilov asks:
The first is to allow a business trip in November of this year to England and France for 45 days for eight specialists from the Research and Testing Institute of the Air Force of the Red Army to familiarize themselves with research aviation organizations. The British and French will not refuse, as we also showed them to their delegations.
Secondly, the head of the Czechoslovak aviation, Fayfr, turned to us through Alksnis with a request to accept 3–5 Czechoslovak military engineers for an internship at TsAGI and for aircraft, engine and instrumentation factories. Voroshilov proposes to satisfy Faifre's request, provided that the Czechs, in turn, agree to accept the same number of our military engineers at similar plants.
We can agree with the first proposal, but we should postpone the second one.
Please provide your opinion 1 . HP 55.
Kaganovich.
_____________________________
1 Stalin answered on October 3, 1936: "Both Voroshilov's proposals can be accepted" (Ibid. D. 95. L. 12).
Kaganovich to Stalin [after October 2, 1936]Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 94. L. 156. Original. Typescript. The signature is an autograph.
The Politburo listened to the report of the Komzag, the Ukrainians and the People's Commissariat of Food Industry on the plan for the procurement of sugar beets. We outlined a plan for harvesting sugar beets in the amount of 177 mil. centners, including 139,240 thousand centners under contract, 19,260 thousand centners in kind, and 18,500 thousand centners from state farms. Ukraine accounts for 135 million centners, Kursk region 17290 thousand centners, Voronezh region - 9400 thousand centners. The end date for digging was scheduled for November 1 in Ukraine, the end of removal - November 10, in the Kursk and Voronezh regions the end of digging - October 20, removal - November 1.
Please let us know your opinion 1 .
Kaganovich.
___________________
1 Dvinsky's inscription on the top margin of the sheet: “Draft telegram. Tov. Stalin. It didn’t go in agreement with Comrade Molotov.”
Molotov, Kaganovich, Andreev to Stalin October 4, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 15. Original. Typescript; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 55. L. 93. Text - Kaganovich's autograph with Molotov's corrections. Signatures are autographs.
Encryption.
From Moscow 4/X - 36 at 19 o'clock. 38 min.
No. 43.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
We appoint the following comrades as people's commissars of the RSFSR: Lobov, People's Commissariat of Food Industry, Ukhanov (he agrees), People's Commissariat of Industry Zhukov, Yurkin, People's Commissariat of State Farms, and we will introduce the rest additionally.
Please let us know your opinion 1 . HP 57.
Molotov, Kaganovich, Andreev.
____________________
1 On the same day, Stalin agreed in cipher from Sochi at 21:00. 44 min. (Ibid. D. 95. L. 14). On October 19, 1936, the PB adopted a resolution “On Permitting the Formation in the RSFSR of People’s Commissariats of Light, Food, Timber Industry, Grain and Livestock Farms” and appointed People’s Commissars of the RSFSR: food industry - S. Slobov, light industry - K.V. Ukhanov, local industry - I.P. Zhukov, grain and livestock farms - T.A. Yurkina (RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 982. L. 13, 14).
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin October 5, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 19–20. Script. Typescript.
Telegram.
From Moscow 5/X — 36 at 0:00. 30 minutes.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
Separate decisions of the Central Committee and Council of People's Commissars established a plan for grain purchases in the Ukraine, the Azov-Black Sea, the North Caucasus, the Crimea, Western Siberia and the Far East in the amount of 116,500,000 poods.
For the rest of the regions, we plan the following plans for grain purchases:
Northern region 500 thousand pounds,
Leningrad region 500 - " -
Kalinin region 500 - " -
Western region 2 million 500 thousand poods,
Moscow region 2 million pounds,
Ivanovo region 600 thousand pounds,
Yaroslavl region 500 — « —
Gorky region 2 million pounds,
Kirovsky Krai 3 - " -
Sverdlovsk Region 3 — « —
Chelyabinsk region 4 — « —
Bashkir ASSR 1 — —» —
Tatar ASSR 1 - " -
Kuibyshev region 1 - " -
Orenburg region 1 — « —
Kursk region 2 million 500 thousand pounds,
Voronezh region 3 million pounds.
Saratov region 1 — « —
Stalingrad region 1 - " -
Kazakh ASSR 7 million 500 thousand pounds,
Kirghiz ASSR 2 million pounds,
Omsk region 2 million 500 thousand pounds,
Krasnoyarsk Territory 8 million pounds.
Byelorussian SSR 3 - " -
Transcaucasian SFSR 1 million 500 thousand pounds,
Uzbek SSR 1 million pounds,
Turkmen SSR 100 thousand pounds.
Tajik SSR 500 - " -
In total, we plan to purchase 56,700,000 poods in these regions. Thus, the general plan for grain purchases this year will amount to 173,200,000 poods against the actual grain purchases of last year in the amount of 218 million poods.
Please let us know your opinion. HP 25.
Kaganovich, Molotov.
Stalin - Kaganovich, Molotov October 5, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 20. Autograph.
Moscow. CC ON. Kaganovich, Molotov.
I am amending the plan for grain purchases : 1 to add five million poods to the Ukraine, one and a half million to the Azov Territory, one million to the North Caucasus and Kuibyshev Territories, one and a half million to the Western Siberia, and 500 thousand poods to the Stalingrad Territory, the Moscow Region, the Orenburg Region and the Crimea.
Stalin.
#51
5/X.36 2
_______________________
1 The plan for grain purchases sent by Kaganovich and Molotov, with Stalin's amendments, was approved by the PB on October 5, 1936 (RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 981. L. 70, 71).
2 Number and date entered by the secretary. Sent on the same day in code from Sochi at 13:00. 56 min. (Ibid. F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 18).
Kaganovich to Stalin October 5, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 25. Original. Typescript.
Telegram.
From Moscow 5/X - 36 at 18 o'clock. 15 minutes.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
1) Instead of Knyazev, I nominate Bodrov as the head of the South Urals, the maintenance engineer, sent a few months ago by deputy Knyazev, familiarized himself with the road, and now, after my check, I am sure that he will cope.
2) Instead of Kovylkin, I nominate Khrustalev, deputy head of the Transcaucasian road, as the head of the Kuibyshev road. He is a major worker and will certainly cope, his departure will not affect the work of Transcaucasian.
3) I ask you to agree to the release of Livshits from the duties of my deputy. Regardless of further clarification of his position, his authority and efficiency are so undermined that it is impossible and inappropriate for him to work as a deputy. At the moment he could be given a job on one of the eastern roads.
Please let me know your opinion 1 . HP 26.
Kaganovich.
______________________
1 Stalin agreed on the same day in a code from Sochi at 9 p.m. 08 min. (Ibid. L. 24).
The personnel changes proposed by Kaganovich on the railways were formalized as decisions of the PB on October 5, 1936 (RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 981. L. 74).
The decision of the PB to dismiss J. A. A. Livshits “with the remaining at the disposal of the NKPS” was adopted on October 8 (Ibid. L. 75).
Kaganovich to Stalin October 6, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 29. Original. Typescript.
Stalin 1 .
I inform you that the meeting on logging opens on the seventh of October at twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Number 27.
Kaganovich.
__________________
1 A telegraph tape is pasted on the document: “6 / X - 36 years 22 hours. 30 minutes.". In the upper left corner of Dvinsky's note about sending a telegram through Z.I. Volovich.
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin October 6, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 30–31. Script. Typescript.
Tov. Stalin.
We are sending the edited text of the statement in London. Please let us know your opinion.
Kaganovich, Molotov.
6/X-36
Project.
Comrade's statement Kagan at the London Committee.
On behalf of the Government of the USSR, I make the following statement.
In notes addressed on September 15 to the governments of Portugal, Germany and Italy, the Spanish government protests against the continuous assistance in military equipment provided by these countries to the Spanish rebels. The Spanish government also transmitted these notes to all other parties to the agreement on non-intervention in Spanish affairs with a request to take measures to end the situation in which the legitimate Spanish government found itself in a state of actual blockade, while the rebels freely receive military aircraft and other types of weapons from different sides. .
In his speech at the Plenum of the League of Nations, Spanish Foreign Minister Alvarez del Vayo raised the same question with all the states that are members of the League of Nations.
A long list of facts representing violations of the non-intervention agreement and relating to the most recent time is given by the Spanish Government both in the White Paper published by it and in additional materials published by the Spanish Government in Geneva on October 3rd. It suffices to cite the following facts.
On September 7, 23 wagons with boxes arrived from Portugal to Seville, in which there were 14 disassembled aircraft sent from Hamburg. On September 20, 12 large German aircraft arrived in Tetouan. These aircraft were subsequently transported from Tetouan to Seville by the troops of the rebels from the so-called "foreign legion". On September 29, the Spanish government received a message that a consignment of poisonous substances and military materials of Italian origin was sent from Lisbon on September 27 to the Spanish border.
A number of eyewitnesses questioned by the Public Committee sitting in London under the chairmanship of Miss Rathbone, a member of the British Parliament, as well as many correspondents of major newspapers who published their personal observations, confirm that the supply of weapons to the rebels, primarily through Portugal, continues on a large scale. The rebels have dozens of bombers and fighters of German and Italian origin, which were not in the Spanish army at the time of the rebellion. Among the rebel airplanes shot down by government forces were 9 aircraft of German origin of the brand Genkel 1. Rebel troops are transferred across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco to Spain on German and Italian planes. The border areas of Portugal are from the very beginning of the rebellion the stronghold of the rebels. In Portugal, the rebels form their units and receive combat equipment from there.
Since the formation of our committee, the Soviet government through me has been constantly raising the question of investigating the actions of Portugal, which is openly violating the agreement on non-intervention.
At the present time, on behalf of my government, I categorically insist on an immediate investigation of the actions of all the above-mentioned violators of the non-intervention agreement 3 .
My Government fears that the systematic violations of the non-intervention agreement render the agreement virtually non- existent .
_____________________
1 Correct Heinkel.
2 The word "puts" Stalin changed to "put".
3 Stalin further wrote: “and the cessation of such actions. The Soviet government fears that such a situation, created by repeated violations of the agreement, makes the agreement on non-intervention virtually non-existent.
4 Stalin deleted the last paragraph and replaced it with another: “The Soviet government can in no way agree to turn the non-intervention agreement into a screen covering military assistance to the rebels by some of the participants in the agreement against the legitimate Spanish government.
The Soviet government is therefore compelled to declare that if violations of the non-intervention agreement are immediately stopped, it will consider itself free from the obligations arising from the agreement.
S. B. Kagan's statement, taking into account Stalin's corrections, was made in the Committee on Non-Intervention in the Affairs of Spain on October 7 (See: DVP. Vol. XIX. S. 463-464).
Kaganovich to Stalin October 8, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558 Op. 11. D. 95. L. 38. Original. Typescript; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 55. L. 96. Typewritten text with corrections by Kaganovich.
Encryption.
From Moscow 8 / X - 36 at 20 o'clock. 10 minutes.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
Glavsevmorput applied for permission to send Levanevsky, Pobezhimov and Chechin to the United States for two and a half months to receive three aircraft ordered from Douglas and Sikorsky.
Please let us know your opinion 1 . HP 60.
Kaganovich.
________________________
1 Stalin answered on October 9, 1936: “Your 60. Decide for yourself” (Ibid. D. 95. L. 38).
Kaganovich to Stalin October 8, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 33. Original. Typescript. Translation from Spanish.
Telegram.
From Moscow 8 / X - 36 at 23 hours 20 minutes.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin 1 .
I am passing on to you the telegram received today from the "brave" Belgians.
Kaganovich.
From Brussels to Stalin. Moscow. Your Excellency, The General Council of the Belgian Workers' Party, meeting on 7 October and representing its 600,000 members, states that there are irrefutable facts proving that the rebellious General Franco received a large amount of war materials of German and Italian origin and that thereby the civil war in Spain became more murderous, while you wished to humanize it, and that under these conditions neutrality is indirect support for the rebels. The Council draws your attention to the heavy responsibility your government bears in allowing thousands of democrats to be unnecessarily killed; he vigorously urges that your Government reconsider its decision and allow the export of military materials to the legitimate Madrid Government. Deblock and Delvin are secretaries." HP 28.
______________________
1 There is a litter of Stalin: "Archive". The original of the telegram in Spanish was preserved in the file (Ibid. L. 36).
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin October 9, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 40–41. Script. Typescript.
Telegram.
From Moscow 9/X - 36 at 1 o'clock.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
Sverdlovsk, Bashkir regional committees, Saratov, Kirov and Gorky regional committees asked to reduce grain procurement plans. We have heard statements from the secretaries of each of these organizations.
1) The Sverdlovsk Regional Committee asks to reduce the plan for grain procurement by 10,500,000 poods, including for payment in kind to reduce the plan by 4,500,000 poods, to defer the collection of payment in kind by 1,000,000 poods, for grain deliveries by 3,800,000 poods, and to postpone the repayment of loans of 1,200,000 poods. The region has 27 lean regions.
We plan to reduce the plan for the Sverdlovsk Region by 7,800,000 poods, including the plan for payment in kind by 4,000,000 poods, to defer payment in kind by 800,000 poods, to reduce the plan for grain deliveries by 2,000,000 poods, to defer the repayment of loans of 1,000,000 poods.
2) The Bashkir Regional Committee asks to further reduce the plan for grain deliveries by 6 million poods and to defer payment in kind, together with the debt of last year, 1445 thousand poods, to postpone the repayment of the loan received this year for winter sowing of 600 thousand poods until the harvest of 1937, to reduce the plan for potato deliveries to collective farms from 140 thousand tons to 50 thousand tons.
We plan to further reduce the plan for grain deliveries by 5 million poods, to postpone the collection of payment in kind by 700,000 poods and the debt in kind by 300,000 poods until the harvest of 1937, to postpone until the harvest of 1937 the return of a loan received in 1936 in the amount of 600,000 poods, to reduce the plan for potato supplies up to 60 thousand tons.
3) The Saratov Territory Committee raised the question of further reducing the grain procurement plan by 6,600,000 poods, including reducing the plan for payment in kind by 2,500,000 poods, deferring the collection of payment in kind in the amount of 1,300,000 poods, reducing grain deliveries by 1,800,000 poods, reducing the grain delivery plan by state farms by 1 million pounds. Saratov had already received a reduction in the plan by 16,485,000 poods.
We plan to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 2 million poods, to postpone the collection of payment in kind by 1 million poods until 1937, to transfer 1 million poods to the arrears in grain deliveries until 1937, and to reduce the grain procurement plan for the Saratov Territory by 4 million poods in total.
4) The Kirov Territory Committee asks to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 2,500,000 poods and to reduce the plan for grain deliveries by 2,500,000 poods, and to reduce the grain procurement plan by 5,000,000 poods in total. The Kirov Territory has already received a discount of 3 million pounds.
We are planning to further reduce the plan for payment in kind by 2 million poods and transfer 1,500,000 poods of grain deliveries to the arrears.
5) The Gorky Territory Committee asks to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 1,770,000 poods, to reduce the plan for grain deliveries by 180,000 poods, to issue a loan of 4,158,000 poods, to return to the collective farms 600,000 poods redeemed by the collective farms in connection with the discount provided, to give a loan in the amount of 3 million rubles for financial assistance collective farms.
We are planning to convert 180,000 poods into arrears in grain deliveries, reduce the plan for payment in kind by 1,500,000 poods, and give 3,000,000 rubles credit to the collective farms. The question of the loan should be postponed until the first quarter, having predetermined the question of disbursing 600,000 poods of loans at the expense of the retaken in connection with the granting of a deferment to the collective farms for grain deliveries.
Please let us know your opinion. HP 29.
Kaganovich, Molotov.
Stalin to Kaganovich, Molotov October 9, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 49. Autograph.
Moscow. CC ON.
Kaganovich, Molotov.
The Sverdlovsk region has a good harvest. Kabakov's demands have little substantiation. You can give a discount of no more than five million. I agree about Bashkiria, Saratov, Kirov and Gorky regional committees.
Stalin.
#55
9/X.36 1
______________________
1 Number and date entered by the secretary. On the same day sent in code from Sochi at 12 noon. 45 min. (Ibid. L. 48).
Kaganovich to Stalin October 9, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 50. Original. Typescript.
Tov. Stalin.
I convey to you the responses in foreign circles and the world press to our statement in London . In all responses, the last paragraphs of the statement stand out in particular.
In addition, Kagan transmitted by telephone from London that the French ambassador in London asked Kagan today how we would feel if the Committee rejected our demands on the Portuguese question. Shall we regard this as a sufficient reason for recognizing the agreement as non-existent? The Kagan said that he would report to his government the decision that would be made on the Portuguese question.
Kagan also reported that there was a report in the London Evening Paper that Czechoslovakia was supposedly going to follow our example, but Kagan did not have any confirmation of this note. Number 30.
Kaganovich.
9.X.36 2
____________________
1 Foreign correspondents' responses to Kagan's statement were sent to Stalin (Ibid. L. 54–71). On October 10 and 11, Kaganovich sent Stalin materials on the meeting of the London Non-Intervention Committee on October 9 to discuss Kagan's statement and reviews of the foreign press (Ibid. L. 72-84).
2 Date entered by the secretary.
Molotov, Kaganovich to Stalin October 11, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 85. Original. Typescript.
Tov. Stalin.
In accordance with your instructions, we propose to send the following directive to the Kagan in London:
“If the Committee refuses to consider our statement of October 7 on the merits under the pretext of the absence of specific proposals in it, or if it delays the adoption of a decision on our application in one way or another, you are instructed to state and substantiate the following at the next meeting of the Committee:
The main supply of weapons to the rebels goes through Portugal and through Portuguese ports. The minimum and, moreover, absolutely urgent measure to put an end to this supply and the violation of the agreement on non-intervention should be the immediate establishment of control over the Portuguese ports. We demand that the Committee establish such control. We propose to entrust the exercise of this control to the English or French fleet, or to both fleets together.
Without such a measure as a minimum and urgent measure against the violation of the agreement on non-intervention in Spanish affairs, this agreement not only does not serve its purpose, but serves as a cover for the rebels against the legitimate Spanish government.
Seek to schedule a new meeting for this statement as soon as possible.”
Please let us know your opinion 1 .
Molotov, Kaganovich.
11.X-36g. 2
_____________________
1 On the same day, Stalin agreed (Ibid.).
2 On the draft letter preserved in the file, there is a mark by the secretary: “Handled by telephone in Sochi at 2:30 am on October 11” (Ibid., L. 86).
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin October 11, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 99. Original. Typescript; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 55. L. 98. Typewritten text. Signatures are autographs.
Encryption.
From Moscow 11/X - 36 at 18 o'clock. 42 min.
Sochi. Tov. Stalin.
In August, Voroshilov submitted to the Central Committee a proposal to approve the number of conscripts in the fall of 1936, citizens of 1914 and 1915 in the amount of 792 thousand people. We believe that we can agree with this proposal.
Please let us know your opinion 1 . HP 62.
Kaganovich, Molotov.
______________________
1 Stalin agreed on October 12 (Ibid. D. 95. L. 99).
Stalin to Kaganovich, Molotov October 11, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 90–94. Autograph.
Moscow. CC ON. Kaganovich, Molotov.
I think that if the members of the London Committee reject our proposal for the control of the Portuguese ports, our representative on this committee should make a statement something like the following:
“Having adopted an agreement with the powers on non-interference in Spanish affairs, the government of the Soviet Union hoped that the agreement would be implemented by its participants, that as a result of this, the terms of the civil war in Spain would be reduced, and the number of victims reduced. The elapsed period has shown, however, that the agreement is systematically violated by a number of its participants, the rebels are supplied with weapons with impunity, one of the parties to the agreement, Portugal, has become the main supply base for the rebels, and the legitimate government of Spain has in fact found itself under a boycott, depriving it of the opportunity to purchase weapons outside of Spain. to protect the Spanish people. Thus, as a result of the violation of the agreement, a privileged position was created for the rebels, which was by no means included in the calculations of the agreement.
The attempts of the representative of the Soviet government to put an end to the practice of violating the agreement did not find support in the committee. The last proposal of the Soviet representative to control the ports of Portugal, which is the main supply base for the rebels, also did not meet with sympathy.
Thus, the agreement turned into an empty, torn piece of paper. It actually ceased to exist.
Not wanting to remain in the position of people who unwittingly contribute to an unjust cause, the government of the Soviet Union sees only one way out of the current situation: to return to the government of Spain the rights and opportunities to purchase weapons outside Spain, which all governments of the world now enjoy, and to provide the parties to the agreement to sell or not to sell arms to Spain."
Stalin.
11/X.36 1
№572
______________________
1 Date and number entered by the secretary. On the same day sent in code from Sochi at 20:00. 30 minutes. (Ibid. L. 89). On October 12, Kaganovich informed Stalin about the receipt of his encryption and the transfer of the text of the directive (Ibid. D. 55. L. 99). The statement proposed by Stalin was made in the Committee for Non-Intervention in Spanish Affairs on 23 October.
Kaganovich to Stalin October 11, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 97. Original. Typescript.
Telephone message 1 .
Tov. Stalin.
First. Until now, we have not reported anything to Caballero about our packages. We believe that Gorev should have been instructed to inform Caballero officially, but secretly, of help. At the moment, to report with all the details of what has already arrived, and in the future to report as the ships arrive.
Second. Considering that 5 ships are already heading to the southern ports and that further dispatch of new ships with special cargoes along this route can be dangerous, we would consider it possible to send part of the cargo along the northern route, to one of the ports on the Bay of Biscay, for example, to Bilbao or Santander. At present all Asturias, with the exception of Oviedo, is in the hands of the friends 2 .
Kaganovich.
_______________________
1 There is a note: “Transferred on 11.X.36 to Chechulin by telephone at 21:15.”
2 On the same day, Stalin replied to Kaganovich: “I received your telephone message about sending Caballero; I agree with you on everything” (Ibid., L. 96). It was about Soviet arms supplies to the Republican government of Spain. The decision to start deliveries was made by the PB on September 29, 1936. By October 22, 50 tanks with fuel and ammunition, 30 high-speed bombers, small arms were delivered to Spain on five ships (Rodina. 1996. No. 9. P. 67. Publication by Yu. Rybalkin). In the future, Soviet deliveries to Spain increased.
Kaganovich to Stalin October 12 [1936]Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 743. L. 64–71. Autograph.
12/X
Hello, Dear Comrade Stalin!
1) Yesterday we had a PB meeting. Among a number of issues we discussed: a) The progress in the production of automobiles at the Gorky Automobile Plant, about which you instructed by telephone. It turned out that indeed a number of serious parts differ from the Ford ones: wheel, steering wheel, springs, shock absorbers, frame, air cleaner and others. Most of these parts are closer to Buik's. Dyakonov argued that this would not create any disharmony in the design of the machine. Since there were no opportunities to clarify this at the meeting itself, we instructed the People's Commissariat for Heavy Duty to analyze this question technically within ten days and report to the Central Committee. In addition, it turned out that in addition to the fact that the plan is quantitatively frustrated, a number of parts are produced defective and put into assembly. As a result, the motor, clutch, gearbox and rear axle have major defects, because of which a number of accidents were discovered in Moscow. We firmly took Dyakonov into circulation (Dybets, unfortunately, was not in Moscow). I also had to thoroughly criticize Pramnek, who does not quite understand the disruption of the plant, and most importantly blames the supplier plants. In 10 days, when we receive the proposals of the People's Commissariat of Heavy, we will inform you1 .
b) I had to put pressure on the Ukrainians to dig and haul beets, otherwise Comrade Mikoyan is not there, and Belenky barely squeaks, and if we do not hurry with digging and hauling, we can lose a lot both in quantity and quality of beets. We hope you will not judge us for this pressure 2 .
2) On the question of seeds, on which you gave instructions, a great deal of work is now being done by the Agricultural Department of the Central Committee. It turned out that there are no people in buckwheat either in institutes or in the People's Commissariat of Agriculture who would deal with varieties of buckwheat or at least even be familiar with this issue. For millet - the same picture, in the People's Commissariat of Agriculture there was not a single worker for millet. For spring wheat, it has already been established that there is no zoning of varieties. The People's Commissariat of Agriculture recommended for the entire middle zone, including Siberia, the 0111 cesium variety. It has now been established that this variety is most affected by smut and is inferior to the Lutescens 062 varieties for the European part and the Milturum 0321 variety for the east.
The novelty variety recommended by the People's Commissariat for the non-chernozem strip is highly infected with rust and smut. It is possible that we are dealing here not only with simple bungling, but also with sabotage. By the end of the month the question will be prepared and then we will inform you. It is exactly the same with the question of the cost of building MTS.
3) In Spanish cases , we act in strict accordance with your instructions. The statement you proposed to make turned out, as can be seen from the responses, to be exceptionally timely and successful. After dinner with the Spanish Ambassador Pasqua, I told him in a conversation that you personallypay special attention to revolutionary Spain and take their difficulties and needs to heart. He asked me to convey his regards and gratitude to you. He said that the Spanish revolutionary masses know and greatly appreciate this, and that your popularity in Spain is very great, that your writings, translated into Spanish, are read along with Lenin's writings by the broad masses. He himself seems to be overwhelmed by the danger of losing Madrid. It shows, of course, that he is not a real Bolshevik revolutionary, but a Menshevik. However, it seems to me that in an effort to raise his optimism, he was pressed too hard. But overall, the conversation went well.
4) In connection with the 50th anniversary of Sergo Sevkavkraikom, he raised the issue of renaming the region and the railway after Comrade Ordzhonikidze. Please let us know your opinion. In addition, we are thinking of covering it in the press accordingly and giving greetings from the Central Committee. We will send you a text of welcome in advance.
5) Comrade Yezhov is doing well. He took up firmly and energetically the uprooting of the counter-revolutionary bandits, conducting interrogations remarkably and politically competently. But, apparently, part of the apparatus, despite the fact that it is now quiet, will be disloyal to him. Take, for example, such a question, which turns out to be of great importance for them, this is the question of rank. There are talks that Yagoda still remains the general commissar, that de Yezhov will not be given this title, and so on. It's strange, but this "problem" matters in this device. When the question of the people's commissar was being decided, this question was somehow not raised. Don't you think, Comrade Stalin, it is necessary to raise this question? 3
Well, I'll end with this.
As for the rest, we try to correct the shortcomings and errors that you point out, and we work to the fullest traction. We are very glad that you are feeling well. Warm regards and best wishes to you.
Yours L. Kaganovich.
PS Comrade Mikoyan has received a letter in which he sends you his warm greetings. L. Kaganovich 4 .
_________________
On October 11, 1936, the PB made a decision: “a) Instruct the Narkomtyazhprom to check the reasons for the unsatisfactory quality of the M-1 cars produced by the Gorky Automobile Plant, both in terms of the organization of production, working methods and supply of the plant, and in relation to the design flaws of the machine, b) Propose TT . Rukhimovich and Pramnek to submit their proposals for improving the quality of the car within ten days ”(RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 981. L. I). On January 14, 1937, the PB adopted a resolution on the construction of the Gorky Automobile Plant, which proposed the production of a new engine for cars and trucks. The completion of construction work to expand the plant was scheduled for the end of September 1939 (Ibid. D. 983. L. 26, 113–116).
On October 11, the PB approved the plan for the delivery of beets harvested in 1936. Ukraine set deadlines for the end of beet harvesting - November 1, 1936, the end of beet transportation - November 10, 1936 (Ibid. D. 981. L. 3, 92– 94).
3 The title of General Commissar of State Security was awarded to Yezhov on January 27, 1937 (Lubyanka. 1917–1960. Handbook. Compiled by Kokurin A.I., Petrov N.V. M., 1997. P. 14).
4 On the first sheet in the upper left corner of the litter: “My archive. I. St[alin].”
Kaganovich to Stalin October 14, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 106–107. Script. Typescript.
Telephone message 1 .
1. Local organizations are asking if mass gatherings should be organized with the approval of our application in London. In some places such meetings are already being held, however, this is still not broad enough.
Please let me know your opinion.
2. Greetings from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Spain addressed to you: “From Madrid. Moscow. Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to its great leader, dear comrade Stalin.
On behalf of the Spanish people, who have become close friends with the socialist homeland, on the radio the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Spain, whose members are fighting in the forefront against the rebellious generals and fascists supported by international fascism, greet the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and especially Great Comrade Stalin, dear, beloved leader of the international proletariat, leader of the construction of socialism in the USSR and ardent defender of peace. The Spanish people, in the bitter struggle that continues to this day, feels strengthened by the solidarity of the peoples of the USSR and promises not to stop fighting for a minute until fascism in our country is finished off, thus dealing a blow to international fascism. Our people, sacrificing their lives in the fight against fascism, want you to know that your fraternal help was a factor that raised their enthusiasm, who gave new energy to the fighters and strengthened his faith in victory. Central Committee of the Communist Party of Spain.
I would think that it should be published in the newspapers. Please let me know your opinion.
3. We are thinking of sending a ship to the north of Spain with food (bread, canned food) and clothes for children.
Please provide your opinion. Kaganovich.
______________________
1 On the document there is a note: “Transferred to comrade Chechulin on 14.X.36 at 2:20 p.m. in the afternoon.”
Kaganovich, Molotov - Stalin October 17, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 114, 119. Original. Typescript. Signatures are autographs.
Tov. Stalin.
We plan to publish tomorrow in the newspapers the following resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the Union on the formation in the Union republics of people's commissariats for light, food, timber industry, grain and livestock farms (the text of the resolution is attached).
Please let us know your opinion.
Kaganovich. Molotov 1 .
Decree 2
Central Executive Committee of the USSR On the formation in the Union republics of people's commissariats of light, food, timber industry, grain and livestock state farms The Central Executive Committee of the USSR decides:
1. To form the following united (Union-Republican) people's commissariats in the Union republics:
a) people's commissariats of light industry - in the RSFSR, the Ukrainian SSR, the Byelorussian SSR, the Uzbek SSR, the Turkmen SSR and the Tajik SSR;
b) people's commissariats of the food industry - in the RSFSR, the Ukrainian SSR, the Byelorussian SSR, the Uzbek SSR, the Turkmen SSR and the Tajik SSR;
c) people's commissariats of the timber industry - in the RSFSR, the Ukrainian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR;
d) people's commissariats of grain and livestock farms - in the RSFSR, the Ukrainian SSR, the Byelorussian SSR, the Uzbek SSR and the Turkmen SSR.
2. To instruct the Central Executive Committees of the Union Republics within a month to approve the regulations on the newly formed people's commissariats.
Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
_____________________
1 This is followed by a note: “Handed over to Comrade Chechulin at 8:30 pm on 17.X.36.”
2 According to the text of the resolution, Molotov’s resolution: “T. Kaganovich. I propose sending Comrade Stalin the exact text of the decree and requesting his opinion (I remind you that Comrade Ikramov wants to have People's Commissariat for Forestry in Uzbekista, which, in my opinion, is premature to decide). Molotov.
Stalin to Kaganovich, Molotov October 17, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 114, 114v. Autograph; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 769. L. 172. Typewritten copy; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 743. L. 72. Typewritten copy.
Moscow. Central Committee of the CPSU. Kaganovich. Molotov .
Your project on the creation of people's commissariats in the Union republics raises objections from Transcaucasians, for example, from Beria. Formally, the TSFSR should also be mentioned in the list of union republics, but in 2 months the TSFSR will no longer be 1, and of course, it is not worth creating people's commissariats in the ZSFSR in order to liquidate them in two months. On the other hand, the absence of the TSFSR in the list of union republics may cause bewilderment. Therefore, perhaps, it would be necessary to wait with the publication until the annulment of the TSFSR and the creation of the union republics of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan there. This does not exclude the possibility that people's commissariats in the Union republics may in fact be formed and function without the publication of the draft resolution of the Central Executive Committee proposed by you. As for the project itself, it is, in my opinion, formulated somewhat clumsily. It is inconvenient to order the union republics from above to form such-and-such people's commissariats. I imagined the matter in such a way that the Union republics, each separately, would turn to the Central Executive Committee with a desire to create such and such people's commissariats, and the Central Executive Committee would not object 2. And you did the opposite.
Stalin.
17/X.36 3
________________________
On December 5, 1936, the VIII All-Union Congress of Soviets approved the new constitution of the USSR, on the basis of which the federation of the Transcaucasian Soviet republics was abolished. The Azerbaijan, Armenian and Georgian SSRs became directly part of the USSR as union republics.
On October 21, 1936, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR granted the request of the Central Executive Committee of the Ukrainian SSR on the formation of the following people's commissariats in the Ukrainian SSR: light, forestry, food industry, grain and livestock farms. On October 22, 1936, this resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR was published in Pravda.
3 Date entered by the secretary. On the copy of the litter: "telephone message".
Kaganovich, Andreev, Zhdanov, Yezhov to Stalin on October 18, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 120. Original. Typescript.
Comrade Stalin.
We are sending a draft resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks "On the perversion by some local party organizations of the directive of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks on the resumption of the admission of new members to the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks" (the draft resolution is attached) 1 .
We consider it expedient to publish in the press.
We ask for instructions. HP 34.
Kaganovich, Andreev, Zhdanov, Yezhov 2 .
______________________
1 The text of the draft resolution is not published. On October 21, 1936, the PB approved the draft decision (RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 3. D. 892. L. 19, IZ, 114). On October 22, 1936, it was published in Pravda.
2 Further, a telegraph tape is pasted on the document: “18 / X - 36 years 13 hours. 15 minutes.".
Molotov, Kaganovich to Stalin October 20, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 55. L. 105–106. Typewritten text. Signatures - autographs; F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 130. Original. Typescript; F. 81. Op. 3. D. 101. L. 100–101. Typewritten copy.
Comrade Stalin 1 .
In the negotiations in July on a trade agreement, the Italian government insisted on a net trade balance and refused to give us the right to transfer abroad in foreign currency part of our export earnings in lira. After a break in negotiations, Italian State Secretary for Foreign Trade Guarneri put forward a proposal to conclude an agreement on the basis of the balance of payments, making it clear that the Italian government would agree not to count oil products in our exports to Italy and to grant us the right to convert oil proceeds into foreign currency and transfer her abroad.
The People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade made the following proposals:
“1) Permit the trade representative and plenipotentiary of the USSR in Italy to resume negotiations with the Italian government on the conclusion of a trade agreement valid until July 1, 1938.
2) Achieve the following basic conditions in the new trade agreement:
a) Non-recording in the balance of payments of proceeds from all deliveries of petroleum products with the right to convert this proceeds into foreign currency and transfer it abroad;
b) Set-off in the balance of payments of our payments to Italians for freight and technical assistance;
c) The right to freely use our export proceeds in lira to pay debts, etc. expenses in Italy;
d) Obligations of the Italian Government not to denounce the Customs Convention before July 1, 1938."
We consider it expedient to accept these proposals.
Please provide your opinion 2 .
No. 72/s, 73/s. No. 1611/sh.
Molotov, Kaganovich.
20/X-36 23–45 3
____________________
1 Sent in code from Moscow on October 21, 1936 at 2:38. (Ibid. F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 130).
2 On the same day, Stalin agreed in cipher from Sochi at 2 pm. 25 min. (Ibid. L. 129). On October 21, 1936, the project was adopted by the PB (RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 162. D. 20. L. 106, 107).
3 Time and date entered by the secretary.
Kaganovich to Stalin October 22, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 138. Original. Typescript.
Tov. Stalin.
Please allow the attached telegram to be published. Number 35.
L. Kaganovich.
"From Madrid. Moscow. To the workers of the USSR and the leader of the world proletariat Comrade Stalin.
On the day of the second anniversary of the death of this valiant comrade who fell with glory in the October struggle, the Battalion named after Sergeant Vasquez from Puente Vallecas sends revolutionary greetings to the peoples of the USSR, who show such heroic solidarity with the Spanish people, who are fighting for what the Russian people have achieved in the struggle against tsarism and in October 1917.
Loyal to you and to the cause of the anti-fascist struggle of the workers of the whole world.
Sergeant Vasquez Battalion 1 .
_______________________
1 There is a note along the top margin: “Through comrade Volovich. B. Dvinsky”, a telegraph tape is pasted below: “Transferred to Sochi on 22.X.36, 4 hours. 18 min."
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin [earlier October 23, 1936]Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 133. Original. Typescript.
Tov. Stalin.
The meeting of the London Committee is scheduled for 23 at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The agenda is as follows:
1) Germany's response to the USSR's statement.
2) Accusations of the USSR, put forward by Germany.
3) Report of the representative of England on the Committee.
4) Portugal's preliminary response to the USSR's statement.
Thus, our two statements, including the port control proposal, are not on the agenda.
1. We consider that it is necessary for Maisky, without waiting for the opening of the meeting of the Committee, to send to the Chairman of the Committee with a request that at the beginning of tomorrow's meeting our statement, adopted by the PB on October 11, 1 be read out, and to have it printed tomorrow in London and Moscow.
2. Add in the statement at the end of the third paragraph the words: "and not even put on the order of the day of today's meeting." Then, at the end, add a sixth paragraph reading: “In any case, the Soviet government, not wishing to bear any more responsibility for the situation that has arisen, which is manifestly unfair to the legitimate Spanish government and the Spanish people, is now compelled to declare that, in accordance with its statement of 7 October 1st, it cannot consider itself bound by the non-intervention agreement to a greater extent than any of the parties to this agreement.
3. Indignantly reject the German accusations.
4. Insist on our proposal for control. Please let us know your opinion 2 .
Kaganovich. Molotov.
____________________
1 This refers to the statement proposed by Stalin.
2 In the upper right corner of the litter: "Not sent."
The telegram was probably composed in connection with Litvinov's cipher: “Secret. October 21st, 1936. Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) comrade. Kaganovich. Copies of com. Stalin, comrade. Molotov, comrade. Voroshilov. On the London Committee. Judging by the press, the convocation of the London Committee is possible in the next few days. Comrade's notice Maisky may be sent on the day of the convocation or the day before, which will deprive him of the opportunity to communicate with us and receive new directives. Thus, he may be put in a very uncomfortable position when he is briefed in the Committee on the state of affairs, and he does not know what to say. Some newspapers wrote that Portugal agreed to the control of its ports, subject to the same control over some of the ports of Spain. It will be difficult to object to this condition, except to demand control of all the ports of Spain, located both in the government and in the rebels. In the meantime, however, some unpleasant facts may come to light. I would therefore consider it desirable, if certain circumstances unknown to me permit, already now, without waiting for the meeting of the Committee, to make to Lord Plymouth the statement prescribed by May on the 11th of this month. The concluding part of the said statement can, however, be understood as our new proposal, on which the decision of the Committee or the respective governments is still required, and that for the time being we consider ourselves bound by the declaration of non-intervention. In order to avoid accusations of disloyalty, should certain facts be discovered, I would suggest adding the following paragraph to the statement:
“In any case, the Soviet government, no longer wishing to bear responsibility for the situation that has arisen, which is clearly unfair with respect to the legitimate Spanish government and the Spanish people, is now forced to declare that, in accordance with its statement of October 7, it cannot consider itself bound by a non-intervention agreement to a greater extent than any of the parties to that agreement."
Such an addition does not yet explode the Committee, does not completely liquidate the agreements, but at the same time opens a loophole for justifying against any revelations.
If circumstances permit, it would be better to send this statement before the meeting of the Committee. Litvinov” (Ibid. L. 136–137).
On October 23, the letter proposed in the telegram from Kaganovich and Molotov, signed by the representative of the USSR in the Committee on Non-Intervention in the Affairs of Spain, I.M. Maisky, addressed to the chairman of this committee, was sent and published the next day in the Soviet press (DVP. Vol. XIX. P. 513 –514).
Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin October 24, 1936Archive: RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 95. L. 140–141. Script. Typescript. Signatures are autographs.
Comrade Stalin 1 .
First. The North Caucasian krai committee and the krai executive committee are asking to reduce the payment in kind plan by 3,135,000 poods, to delay the receipt of 1,233,000 poods in kind until 1937, to delay the return of arrears in payment in kind of 600,000 poods, and to transfer 1,315,000 poods to arrears until the harvest of 1937 from the obligatory delivery of 1,315,000 poods. In total, therefore, they ask to throw off 6283 thousand pounds. We plan to reduce their payment in kind by 2,000,000 poods, to postpone until the harvest of 1937 the receipt of 500,000 poods in kind for 1936 and 200,000 poods in kind for previous years, to provide a discount fund for grain deliveries in the amount of 500,000 poods.
Thus, the reduction planned by us in the North Caucasus will be expressed in the amount of 3,200,000 poods. If this proposal is accepted, then the grain procurement plan for the collective-farm and peasant sector of the North Caucasian Territory will be expressed in the amount of 47,058 thousand poods against the actual procurements of last year at 43,300 thousand poods.
Second. The Chelyabinsk regional committee and the regional executive committee are asking to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 7,343,000 poods, to reduce the plan for grain delivery and repayment of loans by state farms by 6,300,000 poods, and to reduce the plan for grain deliveries by 250,000 poods. In total, therefore, they ask to throw off 13893 thousand pounds. We plan to reduce the plan for payment in kind by 4,200,000 poods, to reduce the plan for grain delivery by grain farms by 5,500,000 poods, and to provide a fund of discounts on grain deliveries in the amount of 100,000 poods.
Thus, the entire reduction planned by us will be expressed in 9,800,000 poods. If this proposal is accepted, the grain procurement plan for the Chelyabinsk region will amount to 28,816,000 poods against the 47,365,000 poods actually harvested last year.
Please let us know your opinion. HP 36.
Kaganovich. Molotov.
1 hour. 06 min. 24 / X - 36
_________________
1 At the top of the litter “Through Comrade Volovich. B. Dvinsky.