Draft Platform on the National Question for the IV Conference of the CC of the RCP(b) with Responsible Workers of National Republics and Regions, Approved by the Politburo of the CC

General Line of Party Work on the National Question

The line of party work on the national question, in the sense of combating deviations from the position of the XII Party Congress, must be determined by the corresponding points of the resolution of that congress on the national question, namely: point 7 of the first section of the resolution and points 1, 2, and 3 of the second section.

One of the fundamental tasks of the party is the cultivation and development, from the proletarian and semi-proletarian elements of the local population, of young Communist organizations in the national republics and regions, rendering every possible assistance to these organizations in standing on their own feet, receiving a genuinely Communist upbringing, and rallying the initially perhaps small but genuinely internationalist Communist cadres. Soviet power will be strong in the republics and regions only when truly serious Communist organizations take root there.

But the Communists themselves in the republics and regions must bear in mind that the situation there, by virtue of the different social composition of the population alone, differs greatly from the situation in the industrial centers of the Union of Republics; that therefore in the borderlands it is often necessary to apply different methods of work. In particular, in striving to win the support of the working masses of the local population, it is necessary to accommodate to a greater extent than in the central regions those elements that are revolutionary-democratic or even simply loyal to Soviet power. The role of the local intelligentsia in the republics and regions is in many respects different from the role of the intelligentsia in the central regions of the Union of Republics. The borderlands are so poor in local educated workers that each of them must be won over to the side of Soviet power by every means.

A Communist in the borderlands must remember: I am a Communist, and therefore I must, acting with due regard for the given milieu, make concessions to those local national elements that want and can work loyally within the framework of the Soviet system. This does not exclude, but presupposes, a systematic ideological struggle for the principles of Marxism and for genuine internationalism against the deviation toward nationalism. Only in this way will it be possible to successfully overcome local nationalism and win over broad strata of the local population to the side of Soviet power.

Questions Connected with the Establishment of the Second Chamber of the CEC of the Union and the Organization of the Commissariats of the Union of Republics

Judging from the still incomplete data, there are altogether seven such questions:

a) On the composition of the second chamber. This chamber must consist of representatives of autonomous and independent republics (four from each, or more) and representatives of national regions (one from each would suffice). It would be desirable to arrange matters so that members of the first chamber would not, generally speaking, be simultaneously members of the second. The representatives of the republics and regions must be confirmed by the Congress of Soviets of the Union of Republics. The first chamber to be called the Union Soviet, the second the Soviet of Nationalities.

b) On the rights of the second chamber in relation to the first chamber. Equality of rights of the first and second chambers should be established, with each retaining the right of legislative initiative and on the condition that no bill submitted for consideration to the first or second chamber may become law without the consent of both chambers, voting separately. Conflicts are resolved by referring them to a conciliation commission of both chambers and, in the event that agreement is not reached, by a new vote at a joint session of the latter, with the proviso that if the disputed bill thus amended fails to obtain a majority of both chambers, the matter is referred for decision to an extraordinary or regular Congress of Soviets of the Union of Republics.

c) On the competence of the second chamber. The second chamber (as well as the first) has jurisdiction over questions provided for by point one of the Constitution of the USSR. The legislative functions of the Presidium of the CEC of the Union and of the Council of People's Commissars of the Union remain in force.

d) On the Presidium of the CEC of the Union of Republics. The Presidium of the CEC must be one. It must be elected by both chambers of the CEC, with, of course, the representation of nationalities ensured, at least the largest of them. The Ukrainian proposal to create two presidiums with legislative functions corresponding to the two chambers of the CEC in place of a single Presidium of the CEC of the Union is inexpedient. The Presidium is the supreme power of the Union, functioning permanently, continuously from session to session. The formation of two presidiums with legislative functions is a bifurcation of supreme power, which would inevitably create great difficulties in the work. The chambers should have their own presidiums, which, however, would not possess legislative functions.

e) On the number of merged commissariats. By decisions of previous CC plenums there are to be five merged commissariats (Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, the Military Commissariat, the People's Commissariat of Transport, and the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs), five directive commissariats (the People's Commissariat of Finance, the VSNKh, the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, the People's Commissariat of Labor, the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection), and the remaining commissariats are completely autonomous. The Ukrainians propose to transfer the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade from the category of merged to that of directive, i.e., to leave these commissariats in the republics in parallel with the Union commissariats, subordinating them to the latter's directives. This proposal is unacceptable if we consider that we are truly forming one Union state capable of appearing before the outside world as a unified whole. The same must be said of concession agreements, the conclusion of which must be concentrated in the Union of Republics.

f) On the structure of the commissariats of the Union of Republics. The collegiums of these commissariats should be expanded by introducing into them representatives of the largest and most important nationalities.

g) On the budgetary rights of the republics. Within the limits of the share allocated to the republics, the dimensions of which must be determined separately, the budgetary autonomy of the latter should be expanded.

Measures for Involving the Working Elements of the Local Population in Party and Soviet Construction

Judging from the incomplete data, even now four measures could be proposed:

a) Purging of state and party apparatus of nationalist elements (having in mind primarily Great Russian, as well as anti-Russian and other nationalists). The purge must be carried out cautiously, on the basis of verified data, under the control of the CC of the party.

b) Systematic and steady work on the nationalization of state and party institutions in the republics and regions in the sense of gradually introducing local languages into official business, with the obligation for responsible workers to learn local languages.

c) Selection and recruitment of more or less loyal elements of the local intelligentsia into Soviet institutions, with simultaneous work by our responsible workers in the republics and regions on developing cadres of Soviet and party workers from among party members.

d) Organization of non-party conferences of workers and peasants with reports by people's commissars and other responsible party workers on the most important measures of Soviet power.

Measures for Raising the Cultural Level of the Local Population

It is necessary, approximately:

a) Establishment of (non-party) clubs and other educational institutions using local languages;

b) Expansion of the network of educational institutions at all levels using local languages;

c) Recruitment of more or less loyal local-origin public school teachers for school work;

d) Establishment of a network of societies for the spread of literacy in local languages;

e) Development of publishing.

Economic Construction in National Republics and Regions from the Standpoint of National-Cultural Peculiarities

It is necessary, approximately:

a) Regulation, and where required, cessation of resettlements;

b) Possible provision of land to the local working population from the state land fund;

c) Accessible agricultural credit for the local population;

d) Intensification of irrigation work;

e) Every possible aid to cooperatives, in particular, artisan cooperatives (with a view to attracting handicraft workers);

f) Transfer of factories and plants to republics that abound in the corresponding raw materials;

g) Establishment of trade and technical schools for the local population;

h) Establishment of agricultural courses for the local population.

On Practical Measures for Organizing National Military Units

It is necessary right now to begin establishing military schools in the republics and regions for training within a certain period a command staff from local people, which could then serve as the nucleus for organizing national military units. It goes without saying that the party and social composition of the national units, especially the command staff, must be adequately ensured. Where old military cadres from local people exist (Tataria, in part Bashkiria), it would be possible right now to organize national militia regiments. In Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan there already exists, it seems, one division each. In Ukraine and Byelorussia it would be possible right now to create one militia division each (especially in Ukraine).

The question of creating national military units is of paramount importance both in terms of defense against possible attacks from Turkey, Afghanistan, Poland, and the like, and in terms of a possible forced action by the Union of Republics against neighboring states. The importance of national military units from the standpoint of the internal situation of the Union of Republics requires no proof. It must be assumed that in connection with this the numerical strength of our army will have to be increased by approximately 20,000-25,000.

Organization of Party-Educational Work

It is necessary, approximately:

a) Create political literacy schools in the native language;

b) Create Marxist literature in the native language;

c) Have a well-organized periodical press in the native language;

d) Expand the activities of the University of the Peoples of the East in the center and locally, ensuring that this university is materially provided for;

e) Establish a party discussion club at the University of the Peoples of the East with the involvement of CC members residing in Moscow;

f) Intensify work in the youth league and among women in the republics and regions.

Selection of Party and Soviet Workers from the Standpoint of Implementing the Resolution of the XII Congress on the National Question

It is necessary to bring into the assignment department, agitprop, organizational department, women's department, and the instructional apparatus of the CC a certain number of nationals (two or three each), so that with their help the current party work of the CC in the borderlands may be facilitated and the correct distribution of party and Soviet workers among the republics and regions ensured in the spirit of the XII Congress line on the national question.

Fourth Conference of the CC of the RCP with Responsible Workers of National Republics and Regions. Stenographic Report. Moscow, 1923.