247. To LYDIA FOTIEVA[1]
Comrade Fotieva:
1) Urgently find the author, have a talk with him, reassure him and toll him that I am ill but will see to it that the matter is dealt with.
2) Please have his letter typed in several copies:
1 for Molotov
1 for Solts, Central Control Commission.
3) When sending the letter to Molotov add on my behalf: I propose that a Control Commission should be sent to the Don consisting of a member of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee + 10 (or 20) of Sverdlov men (taking the author along with them), and that everyone found guilty of plundering should be shot on the spot.
13/VII.
Lenin
Notes
[1] Written in connection with a letter from I. A. Semyannikov, a Communist Red Armyman, who informed Lenin about cases of mismanagement, stealing and abuse of power by food supply workers and responsible Communists in the Don region. He requested immediate measures to stop these scandalous practices which were arousing indignation among the workers and peasants.