429. TELEGRAM TO ALL GUBERNIA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES, GUBERNIA PARTY COMMITTEES, GUBERNIA TRADE UNION COUNCILS, GUBERNIA LABOUR COMMITTEES
October 10, 1921
Under the influence of the food supply situation in the Donbas, which was aggravated last May-July, tens of thousands of workers have abandoned the pits and have dispersed, some of them beyond the boundaries of the area. The flight is especially strong among coal-hewers, whose numbers dropped from 16,000 to 10,000 in August, and also among skilled boiler-men. The food supply situation in the Donbas has now been stabilised, namely, a three months’ supply of grain has been delivered and is to be increased. I propose that you start extensive agitation for a return to the pits of the underground workers who have left Donbas, namely, coal-hewers, sledders, timberers, drillers, drifters, haulers, and also boiler-men and machinists. No need to send workers others than those in the stated categories. In conducting agitation explain: 1) full provision of grain; 2) introduction of new rules of payment in food and cash by productivity, and abolition of levelling issues of food and money; 3) on the return of the workers largely depends the success of the food campaign in the Ukraine, which had been slowed down by a shortage of fuel for food transportation.
Lenin
Chairman,
C.L.D.[1]
Notes
[1] The telegram is also signed by V. M. Molotov, Secretary of the R.C.P.(B.) Central Committee.—Ed.