Abridged Record of a Conversation with V.L. Komarov
November 13, 1944
(6:45 p.m. — 7:45 p.m.)

Komarov. I sincerely thank you, Iosif Vissarionovich, for the high award. You have always helped me at decisive moments, and now you have valued my merits so highly, so undeservedly highly. For the first time a botanist, in my person, has been marked with the high title of Hero of Socialist Labor. I see in this an expression of the constant attention and care for Soviet science. Scientists justify this care, but I personally must say once again that the evaluation of my merits seems to me extremely high, I would say undeservedly high.

Stalin. Come now! We have awarded you according to your deserts. The Soviet government does not give awards for nothing. You have fully deserved the award.

Komarov. I wish to take advantage of this conversation with you to consult on the following question. In accordance with our national policy, the Academy of Sciences has created a number of branches in the localities, from which national academies of sciences have grown.

All this creates the necessity of coordinating scientific work in the country. It is necessary to unite and coordinate the scientific activity of the republican academies, to help them in research work and in the publication of scientific works, and also in the training of national cadres of scientists.

I spoke about this with the leading comrades in the national republics, which I had occasion to visit this summer, and met with full sympathy. I would like to know your opinion.

It would be necessary to create a Council of the Academy of Sciences composed of the presidents of the Academy of Sciences and the republican academies of sciences.

Stalin. I fully agree with this proposal, but at the same time it must be borne in mind that our All-Union Academy of Sciences must guide the republican academies and help them just as our union state helps the republics that make it up. Therefore the leading role of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR must be secured in every way, and perhaps it would be best of all to create the Council you propose under the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.

Komarov. The next question I would like to raise before you is connected with the forthcoming 220th anniversary of the founding of the Academy of Sciences in the spring of 1945. The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Academy of Sciences took place in the spring of 1925. I would like to mark this significant date with a great scientific celebration.

Stalin. Of course, this must be done.

Komarov. May foreign scientists be invited?

Stalin. They may.

Komarov. This celebration, it seems to me, will be of enormous public significance, since it will demonstrate the historical contribution that Russian science, and in particular the activity of the Academy of Sciences, has made to world scientific thought. At the same time the development of advanced Soviet science and culture and the role of scientific creativity in the state construction of the USSR will be shown.

Stalin. I fully agree with you and support your proposal.

Komarov. In 1945 another significant jubilee also falls — the centenary of the existence of the Geographical Society under the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. This date should be marked.

Stalin. Correct. This should be done.

Komarov. Now I want to share with you my thoughts on the development of such an important branch of the sciences as the history of natural science. The war, it seems to me, has shown how important it is for the state that the cultural past of the people should be preserved in the national memory.

Moreover, it is necessary to secure the leading role of Soviet science in research on the history of natural science, both world and Russian. I want to acquaint you with a letter that the most eminent Russian scientists — Academicians V.I. Vernadsky and N.D. Zelensky — have sent me.

They ask me to organize an Institute for the History of Natural Science and to head this institute. Moreover, it would be extremely useful to publish a periodical collection devoted to the history of natural science, "Scientific Heritage," so as to print there research and documents on the history of science.

I have specific proposals on the direction of the work and the personal composition of the Institute for the History of Natural Science, which I wish to present to you.

Stalin. I am surprised that the Academy of Sciences still does not have such an Institute. This is a very important matter. Young people in particular must know the history of science. I fully support your proposal.

Komarov. Now I would like to report to you on the prospects of scientific assistance to the oil industry. In Baku, having consulted with Comrade Bagirov, I decided to organize within the Academy of Sciences a special Commission for the scientific servicing of the current tasks of the oil industry. This business has dragged on somewhat, but we have already sent two expeditions to the Absheron Peninsula. I would like to know your opinion: should we engage in this business?

Stalin. Correct, this business must be attended to. However, I would like to warn you that one should not be excessively carried away with deep horizons. Oil should be sought in areas where it can be obtained at comparatively shallow depths.

I would like to raise some problems before you. It would be necessary to find new sources of iron ore for supplying Leningrad industry, in order to avoid long-distance transportation of ore to Leningrad. Searches for iron ores should be developed in the regions of Lake Onega, Lake Ladoga, and to the north of them.

It would be possible to create on the basis of these ore sources a metallurgical base for Leningrad industry. In that case coal could also be brought from new basins located comparatively not far from Leningrad.

Komarov. The Council for the Study of Productive Forces of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR has already accumulated great experience and has certain achievements in organizing analogous geological and complex surveys. Academician A.E. Fersman, working in the Council for the Study of Productive Forces, was conducting searches for mineral ores in the regions you named before the war. We will charge him and other scientists with expanding these researches, and I hope soon to report to you on the favorable results of the searches undertaken.

Stalin. Now it is necessary to ensure full supply for Soviet scientists of scientific literature published abroad. Scientists must know the scientific output of both our friends and our enemies. Moreover, it is necessary to supply our institutes and laboratories with equipment and goods through imports. One should not grudge funds for this business. It will pay for itself many times over. I would ask you to think about how to organize the immediate delivery of the necessary literature and equipment for Soviet scientists, and we will help you.

By the way, I would like to know your evaluation of the state of science in Germany.

Komarov. As far as I know, certain research on particular questions connected with military technology is still being conducted in Germany, and it is of undoubted interest to us. However, in general the Hitlerites have to such a degree expelled and destroyed everything that was best in German science that Germany has now become a country of scientific desolation and paralysis of science. Having lost a genius such as Einstein, having destroyed scientific centers, having destroyed the best part of the intelligentsia, Germany has been thrown backward in scientific respects.

Would it not be possible after the war to equip and send on an expedition to southern countries a special vessel for replenishing the loss of greenhouse plants at the Botanical Institute in Leningrad, which occurred as a result of enemy bombardments and shellings?

Stalin. This can be done. Tell me, does the Leningrad climate not hinder the development of the botanical garden?

Komarov. The Leningrad Botanical Garden has existed for 120 years. However, permit me to think over your question.

I have taken up your precious time, Iosif Vissarionovich...

Stalin. The questions we have been discussing belong to the most important affairs of state. I ask you to continue to apply to me and shall be glad to see you.

Zhdanov Yu.A. A Look into the Past. P. 178-181.
ARAN. F. 277. Op. 3. D. 197. L. 1-6.