Letter to V.M. Molotov, September 7, 1930

Source: Tom 17

7/IX-30.

Vyacheslav!

Two questions:

1) I hear that Rykov and Kviring want to smother the Northern Canal project in defiance of the Politburo's decisions. They must be put in their place and their hands must be slapped. Cutting the financial plan to the maximum is appropriate, but smothering the project is criminal.

2) I hear that there are plans to take prisoners (with sentences of more than three years) away from the OGPU in favor of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. These are the machinations of the thoroughly rotten Tolmachev. There is also something of Syrtsov in this, with whom Rykov has been flirting. I think that the Politburo's decisions must be implemented, and the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs should be shut down.

Warm regards.

I. Stal.

Source: Letters of I.V. Stalin to V.M. Molotov. 1925-1936. P. 214.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 5388.

NOTE

See: Note to V.M. Molotov, May 5, 1930.

On June 27, 1929, the Politburo approved a resolution "On the Use of Labor of Criminal Prisoners." It stipulated that persons sentenced to deprivation of freedom for terms of three years or more were to be transferred to camps organized by the OGPU. To receive these prisoners, it was decided to expand existing camps and organize new concentration camps (in the territory of Ukhta and other remote regions) "for the purpose of colonizing these regions and exploiting their natural resources through the use of the labor of those deprived of freedom." Those sentenced to deprivation of freedom for terms of one to three years remained under the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariats of Internal Affairs of the union republics and were to be employed in their agricultural or industrial colonies.

The People's Commissariats of Internal Affairs of the union republics resisted the transfer of prisoners serving three-year sentences, seeking to use them on their own economic projects as well. In early August 1930, Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR Shirvind sent the government a memorandum requesting a review of the decision on the mandatory transfer of prisoners to OGPU camps. This petition was supported before the Union government by Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR Syrtsov. On August 31, at a conference of deputies to Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR Rykov, a decision was adopted:

"To accept that persons deprived of freedom for terms exceeding three years, insofar as they can be used for labor in colonies and at factories of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, shall be retained by it."

On October 5, 1930, following Stalin's letter, the Politburo again considered the question "on the use of labor of criminal prisoners" and resolved "to adhere to the previous Politburo decision of June 27, 1929."

On December 5, the Politburo approved a resolution on the dissolution of the People's Commissariats of Internal Affairs of the union and autonomous republics. Their functions were transferred to the executive committees of the soviets and the People's Commissariats of Justice of the union republics. Direction of the activities of the militia and criminal investigation departments was placed under the OGPU.