Translated from: ru/1913/1913-11_pismo_rv_malinovskomu_konets_noyabrya_1913.txt

From Iosif Dzhugashvili. Late November.

Hello, friend. I feel awkward writing, but I must. I think I have never been in such a terrible situation. My money is all gone. A suspicious cough has started in connection with the intensifying frosts (37 degrees below zero); my general condition is sickly; I have no stores of bread, sugar, meat, or kerosene (all my money went on everyday expenses and on clothing and footwear). And without stores, everything here is expensive: rye bread is 4 kopecks a pound, kerosene 15 kopecks, meat 18 kopecks, sugar 25 kopecks. I need milk, I need firewood, but... money -- there is no money, friend. I do not know how I shall get through the winter in such a condition... I have no wealthy relatives or acquaintances; I have positively no one to turn to; I am turning to you -- and not only to you, but also to Petrovsky and Badaev. My request is this: if the Social-Democratic faction still has a "Fund for the Repressed," let it -- the faction, or better, the bureau of the faction -- grant me a one-time aid of at least 60 rubles. Pass on my request to Chkheidze and tell him that I ask him, too, to take my request to heart -- not only as a fellow countryman, but above all as chairman of the faction. And if such a fund no longer exists, then perhaps all of you together can think of something suitable. I understand that all of you, and you especially, have no time, are busy; but, devil take me, there is no one else to turn to. And to perish here without having even written a single letter to you -- I do not want that. This matter must be settled today, and the money sent by telegraph, because to wait any longer means to starve, and I am already exhausted and ill. My address you know: Turukhansk Territory, Yenisei Province, village of Kostino.

Iosif Dzhugashvili.

Furthermore: Zinoviev writes to me that my articles on the "national question" will be published as a separate pamphlet. Do you know anything about this? The point is that if this is true, it would be necessary to add a chapter to the articles (I could do this in a few days, if only you let me know), and then I hope (have the right to hope) that there will be a royalty (in this accursed land where there is nothing but fish, money is as essential as air). I hope that, if the need arises, you will stand up for me and obtain the royalty... Well, I await what I have asked for, and I firmly shake your hand, kiss you, devil take me... Greetings to Stefania, the children. Greetings to Badaev, Petrovsky, Samoilov, Shagov, Mironov [apparently Muranov -- Ed.]. Am I really destined to languish here for four years?... Yours,

Iosif.

I have just learned that, apparently at the end of August, 20 or 25 rubles were sent for me by Badaev to Vorogovo (Yenisei District). I report that I have not yet received them and probably will not until spring. During my entire stay in Turukhansk exile, I have received a total of 44 rubles from abroad and 25 rubles from Petrovsky. I have received nothing more.

Iosif.

Ostrovsky, A.V. Who Stood Behind Stalin. pp. 397-398.

GARF. F. 102. OO. 1914. D. 5-25-B. L. 2-2 rev.