Lenin’s Last Letters
Written from 30 January – 16 March 1923
Editor’s note: By the end of December 1922 and January 1923, as a result of the discussions on the formation of the USSR, the opposition and complaints of leading Georgian communists, etc., Lenin had become extremely worried about the bureaucratic and Great-Russian chauvinist tendencies he could see had developed in the party.
He saw the Georgian incident in which Ordzhonikidze had physically assaulted a leading Georgian communist, Akakii Kobakhidze, in opposition to him as a very serious and worrying manifestation of this. He insistently demanded to see the full contents of the report on the incident drawn up by Felix Dzerzhinsky, whom he did not trust on this question. He wanted to know the role Stalin had played in the affair.
He made it clear to the Georgians communists, whom Stalin had accused of ‘nationalist deviations’ that he was on their side and that he intended to defend their case at the forthcoming party congress. By March 1923, he realised that he may not be able to attend, and asked Trotsky to speak on his behalf. He was anxious that his point of view should be presented to the meeting, not only on the specific incident (where he stood against Stalin and Dzerzhinsky) but more generally on how to deal with the national question.
In effect, Lenin intended to launch a factional struggle against Stalin and his developing bureaucratic clique. That was not to be. On 9 March, Lenin suffered his third stroke which left him paralysed and more or less helpless until his death on 21 January 1924.
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From the Journal of Lenin’s Secretaries (extract)
Written 30-31 January 1924
Editor’s note: These entries were taken by Lydia Fotieva, Lenin’s personal secretary and a member of the Bolsheviks from 1904.
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30 January 1923
On 24 January, Vladimir Ilyich sent for Fotieva and gave instructions to ask Dzerzhinsky or Stalin for the materials of the commission on the Georgian question and to make a detailed study of them. This assignment was given to Fotieva, Glyasser and Gorbunov. Object: report to Vladimir Ilyich, who wanted this for the party congress. Apparently, he did not know the question was up at the Politbureau. He said:
Just before I got ill, Dzerzhinsky told me about the work of the commission and about the ‘incident’, and this had a very painful effect upon me.
On Thursday 25 January, he asked whether the materials had been received. I answered that Dzerzhinsky would not be arriving until Saturday. Therefore I had not yet been able to ask him.
On Saturday I asked Dzerzhinsky, he said Stalin had the materials. I sent Stalin a letter, but he was out of town. Yesterday, 29 January, Stalin phoned saying he could not give the materials without the Politbureau. Asked whether I had not been telling Vladimir Ilyich things he was not to be told – how was it he was posted about current affairs? For instance, his article about the WPI[1] showed that certain circumstances were known to him. I answered that I had not been telling anything and had no reason to believe he was posted about affairs. Today Vladimir Ilyich sent for me to learn the answer and said that he would fight to get the materials.
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Evening of 14 February 1923
Called me in again. Impediment in speech, obviously tired. Spoke again on the three points of his instructions. In special detail on the subject that agitated him most of all, namely, the Georgian question. Asked to hurry things up. Gave certain instructions:
Vladimir Ilyich’s instructions that a hint be given to Soltz[2] that he (Lenin) was on the side of the injured party. Some one or other of the injured party was to be given to understand he was on their side.
Three moments: (1) One should not fight. (2) Concessions should be made. (3) One cannot compare a large state with a small one.
Did Stalin know? Why didn’t he react?
The name ‘deviationist’ for a deviation towards chauvinism and Menshevism proves the same deviation with the dominant-national chauvinists.
Collect printed matter for Vladimir Ilyich.
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Letter to L Trotsky
Dictated 5 March 1923
Dear Comrade Trotsky:
It is my earnest request that you should undertake the defence of the Georgian case in the party CC. This case is now under ‘persecution’ by Stalin and Dzerzhinsky, and I cannot rely on their impartiality. Quite to the contrary. I would feel at ease if you agreed to undertake its defence. If you should refuse to do so for any reason, return the whole case to me. I shall consider it a sign that you do not accept.
With best comradely greetings,
Lenin
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Letter to PG Mdivani, FY Makharadze and Others
Dated 6 March 1923
Comrades Mdivani, Makharadze[3] and others
Copy to Comrades Trotsky and Kamenev
Dear Comrades:
I am following your case with all my heart. I am indignant over Ordzhonikidze’s rudeness and the connivance of Stalin and Dzerzhinsky. I am preparing for you notes and a speech.
Respectfully yours,
Lenin
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To Comrade Kamenev
(Copy to Comrade Trotsky)
Dated 16 March 1923
Leon Borisovich,
Supplementing our telephone conversation, I communicated to you as acting chairman of the Political Bureau the following:
This question has worried him extremely and he was preparing to speak on it at the party congress. Not long before his last illness he told me that he would publish this article, but later. After that he took sick without giving final directions.
Vladimir Ilyich considered this article to be a guiding one and extremely important. At his direction it was communicated to Comrade Trotsky whom Vladimir llyich authorised to defend his point of view upon the given question…
Endnotes
[1] The People’s Commissariat of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection, also known as the Rabkrin or WPI was a body set up in 1920 to scrutinise and maintain the effectiveness of the Soviet state and administration.
[2] Aaron Soltz joined the Bolsheviks in 1898 and was a member of the presidium of the Communist Party Central Control Commission.
[3] Filipp Makharadze was a Georgian Bolshevik.