Written: Written in English
Published:
First published in 1932 in Lenin Miscellany XX.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
1976,
Moscow,
Volume 45,
pages 98b-99a.
Translated: Yuri Sdobnikov
Transcription\Markup:
R. Cymbala
Public Domain:
Lenin Internet Archive
You may freely copy, distribute,
display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
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• README
Moscow, March 17, 1921.
Mr. Washington B. Vanderlip
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your kind letter of the 14th, and am very glad to hear of President Harding’s favourable views as to our trade with America. You know what value we attach to our future American business relations. We fully recognise the part played in this respect by your syndicate and also the great importance of your personal efforts.[2] Your new proposals are highly interesting and I have asked the Supreme Council of National Economy to report to me at short intervals about the progress of the negotiations. You can be sure that we will treat every reasonable suggestion with the greatest attention and care.[1] It is on production and trade that our efforts are principally concentrated and your help is to us of the greatest value.
If you have to complain of some officials please send your complaint to the-respective People’s Commissary who will investigate the matter and report if necessary. I have already ordered special investigation concerning the person you mention in your letter.
The Congress of the Communist Party has taken so much of my time and forces that I am very tired and ill. Will you kindly excuse me if I am unable to have an interview with you just now. I will beg Comrade Chicherin to speak with you shortly.
Wishing you much success I remain.
Yours truly,
Wl. Oulianoff (Lenin)
[1] See Document 94 of this volume.—Ed.
[2] In the autumn of 1920, Washington Vanderlip, representing the Vanderlip Syndicate, a large American concern, came to Moscow for talks on a concession for fisheries, and exploration for and extraction of oil and coal in Kamchatka and the rest of Eastern Siberia to the east of longitude 160°. A draft agreement was worked out at the end of October under which the syndicate was to receive a 60–year concession. After 35 years the Soviet Government was to have an option to buy out all the concession enterprises, and upon the expiry of the whole period, the enterprises and equipment in full running order were to be transferred free of charge into the ownership of the R.S.F.S.R. However, the syndicate failed to obtain support either from its own government or from influential financial groups in the U.S.A., and the draft agreement was not signed. p. 98
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