August 3, 1926

August 3 (Tuesday).

Molotov!

1) Kamenev submitted his resignation before the Politburo had even considered the question of the export-import plan, proposing that Mikoyan replace him.

2) The Politburo examined the question of the export-import plan and found the situation "unsatisfactory," creating a Rudzutak commission to improve matters in the People's Commissariat of Trade [NKT].

3) On Thursday (August 5) we will accept Kamenev's resignation and appoint Mikoyan, with a poll of CC members on this matter.

4) We are thinking of sending Kamenev to Japan, Aralov to China (the Chinese government has demanded the recall of Karakhan, who will have to be recalled), perhaps Kopp to Italy with the recall to Moscow of Kerzhentsev, who has had bad luck in Italy.

5) Things are going quite well on the whole. All the major Western parties have spoken out for our CC (including France and Czechoslovakia), against the opposition.

6) Bukharin has not yet returned. In the Politburo there are now six people: Rykov, Rudzutak, Kalinin, Stalin, Trotsky, Kamenev (the latter votes since none of the candidate members are in Moscow any longer).

7) You already know about Kuibyshev's appointment to the VSNKh. The opposition in the Politburo is behaving quietly. Regards to all friends in Sochi.

I shake your hand.

Stalin.

Send the transcript of your speeches as soon as possible. We have decided to publish the "Lashevich affair" in the next issue — that is, the proceedings on this matter.

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Source: Letters of J.V. Stalin to V.M. Molotov. 1925–1936. P. 75–76.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 5388.