Letter to L.M. Kaganovich, 4 August 1932

Source: Tom 17

Greetings, Comrade Kaganovich!

1) I am returning the draft decree on the protection of public property with amendments and additions. As you can see, I have expanded it somewhat. Issue it as quickly as possible.

2) I have no objections to your import plan, though it would be better to reduce it further.

3) Comrade Karakhan's memorandum on the reply to the Japanese naval ministry is correct.

4) The plan for the opening of the Dneprostroi dam is excessively inflated. What the devil do we need such pomp for? It needs to be cut by two-thirds. The list of persons for the order and the honor board can be accepted. If Kalinin opens it and Molotov and Chubar deliver speeches, that is already no small thing.

5) Outrageous things are happening on the railways. Service personnel along the lines are being assaulted and terrorized by hooligans and homeless children. The Transport OGPU organs are asleep (fact!). This disgrace can no longer be tolerated. Call the Transport OGPU to order. Make it maintain order along the lines. Issue a directive to the Transport OGPU to have armed men along the lines and to shoot hooligans on the spot. Where is the Transport OGPU? What is it doing? How can Comrade Blagonravov tolerate all this lawlessness and disorder?

Greetings!

I. Stalin

4/VIII-32

---

Source: Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931-1936, p. 260.

RGASPI. F. 81. Op. 3. D. 99. L. 121-123.