Rostov-on-Don. Kraikom VKP, Comrade Sheboldaev.

Copy: Moscow. CC VKP(b), Comrade Kaganovich.

I received your memorandum on reducing the plan and forwarded it to the CC. I cannot support you in view of the krai's poor work in the area of grain procurement. If the Middle Volga, which suffered drought, delivered 4 million puds in the third five-day period, while your krai did not deliver even 2 million, it means that the kraikom has lost its nerve in the face of difficulties and has surrendered its positions to the apostles of drift, or else the kraikom is being diplomatic and trying to lead the CC by the nose. You will agree that I cannot support you in work of this sort.

Stalin

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Source: Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931-1936, pp. 294-295.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 11. D. 79. L. 51.

NOTE

On 20 August 1932 Sheboldaev addressed Stalin with a letter about the course of grain procurement. He noted that collective farmers "are working this summer better than last year, but there is heightened wariness in relation to grain procurement."

The dissatisfaction of the collective farmers, Sheboldaev reported, was caused by poor leadership of agriculture, the tension of the work, and "administration." Peasants openly say that the same difficult situation is expected in the North Caucasus as in Ukraine.

Under these conditions district leaders refuse to communicate the grain-procurement plan to collective farms because of its severity. Sheboldaev asked that the grain-procurement plan be reduced.

Stalin, as follows from his letter to Kaganovich of 21 August, was dissatisfied with these proposals. At Stalin's demand Pravda published the compilation "Grain Procurement. The North Caucasus in Last Place, at the Tail of the Southern Regions."