654. To THE NARROW COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS^[1]

Written in August, not earlier than 11, 1920 · First published in 1945 in Lenin Miscellany XXXV. Printed from the original. · page 413

Narrow Council:

Please consider the request (§ b in the Orgbureau partly), It should be complied with to a certain extent, for the struggle against illiteracy is a task more important than any other.

Lenin

Notes

[1] This note was written on a letter dated August 11, 1920, addressed to the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, V. I. Lenin, from I. Brikhnichev, head of the All-Russia Extraordinary Commission for Abolishing Illiteracy. It asked for cadres to strengthen the commission, premises for the work, means of transport, and food rations. Point “b” of the letter read: “ People are needed, some 10–15 skilled and unskilled staff workers. Can be summoned from the localities or mobilised in Moscow.”