Comrades Kaganovich. Molotov.

1. If there are objections to my proposal on adopting a law against the plundering of cooperative and collective farm property and freight on transport, give the following explanation.

Capitalism could not have defeated feudalism, it would not have developed and grown strong, if it had not declared the principle of private property the foundation of capitalist society, if it had not made private property sacred property, the violation of whose interests is most strictly punished, and for the defense of which it created its own state.

Socialism will not be able to finish off and bury the capitalist elements and the individualistic-grabbing habits, customs, and traditions (which serve as the basis for theft) that undermine the foundations of the new society unless it declares public property (cooperative, collective farm, state) sacred and inviolable. It cannot consolidate and develop the new order and socialist construction unless it protects the property of collective farms, cooperatives, and the state with all its might, unless it breaks the desire of anti-social, kulak-capitalist elements to plunder public property. This is why a new law is needed. We do not have such a law. This gap must be filled. The new law could be called something like: "On the Protection of the Property of Public Organizations (collective farms, cooperatives, etc.) and the Strengthening of the Principle of Public (Socialist) Property." Or something to that effect.

If the proposal is accepted, send me a (preliminary) draft of the law.

2. In response to your letter, I wrote at some point that capital investments should be reduced by 500-700 million rubles across all sectors, with the exception of the People's Commissariat of Transport, ferrous metallurgy, and light industry. To avoid misunderstandings, I am informing you that by light industry I also had in mind the food industry (sugar, canning, etc.).

Greetings!

I. Stalin

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Source: Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931-1936, pp. 240-241.

RGASPI. F. 81. Op. 3. D. 100. L. 137-140.

NOTE

On the first page of the document, at the top, is the inscription: "In favor -- Molotov, Kuibyshev, Voroshilov, Kalinin."

On 24 July 1932 a cipher telegram signed by Kaganovich and Molotov was sent:

"Sochi. To Comrade Stalin. We have worked out the following draft resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the USSR, using the text of your letter.

"In view of the fact that lately thefts of freight on transport and thefts of cooperative and collective-farm property have become more frequent, and these thefts are being used by kulaks, dekulakized persons, and other anti-social elements seeking thereby to shake our new system, the Presidium of the CEC of the USSR resolves:

1. To equate railway freight, collective-farm and cooperative property in their significance with state property.

2. To apply as a measure of judicial repression for thefts of freight on transport, as well as for theft of cooperative and collective-farm property, the highest measure of social protection: execution by shooting with confiscation of all property, replaced in mitigating circumstances by deprivation of liberty for a term of not less than ten years with confiscation of property.

3. To abolish the application of amnesty to criminals convicted in these cases.

4. To instruct the judicial organs of the Union and the union republics to ensure the most rapid consideration of these cases.

Please communicate your opinion."