Letter to L.M. Kaganovich, September 14, 1931

Source: Tom 17

Greetings, Comrade Kaganovich!

I received your letter of 11/IX. I reply on the various questions.

1) With Japan one must be more careful. We must hold our positions firmly and unshakably, but our tactics should be more flexible, more circumspect. Rozengolts wants to act by a rush. That won't do right now. The time for an offensive has not yet come.

2) Orders in Austria, if the latter proves obstinate, may be discontinued, but this should be done without fanfare, in a businesslike manner, without new decrees, without ostentatious publications.

3) Concerning the trade treaty with Afghanistan, I cannot say anything, since I have not had time to read the materials. I think there is no need to rush with this matter.

4) The import plan for the fourth quarter should be cut as much as possible. One must not give in to wailing and hysteria -- without thorough surgery nothing will come of it. As for exports, we must push flax, butter, oil cake, and so on. Grain cannot be pushed further, since we have to sell it "for nothing," while domestically it is badly needed.

5) Rubber may be imported, as the NKVT requires.

6) The Transcaucasians' report to the Orgburo can be postponed to October 16.

7) Press hard on Moscow's municipal services (firewood, housing, road and street construction, and so on).

That is all. Regards,

I. Stalin

14/IX-31.

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Source: Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931-1936, pp. 103-104.

RGASPI F. 81. Op. 3. D. 99. L. 32-33.

NOTE: On September 10, 1931, the Politburo session considered questions concerning trade relations and negotiations with Japan on fishing matters. It was decided to postpone the question of trade relations and to request Stalin's opinion. The fishing agreement was signed on August 13, 1932. On September 10, 1931, the Politburo considered the question of trade negotiations with Austria and adopted a decision: "To instruct the plenipotentiary and trade representative in Austria to categorically declare to the Austrian government and Austrian industrialists that we will discontinue all orders in Austria if their policy toward our exports is not changed."