Hello, Vyacheslav!

Regarding the constitution, I think it should under no circumstances be confused with the Party program. It should contain that which has already been achieved. The program, on the other hand, should also contain that which we are striving for.

I have the following preliminary plan. The constitution should consist of (approximately) seven sections: 1) The social structure (on the Soviets, on socialist property, on the socialist economy, etc.); 2) The state structure (on union and autonomous republics, on the union of republics, on the equality of nationalities, races, etc.); 3) The organs of supreme power (the Central Executive Committee or the organ replacing it, two chambers, their rights, the Presidium, its rights, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, etc.); 4) The organs of administration (the People's Commissariats, etc.); 5) The organs of justice; 6) The rights and duties of citizens (civil liberties, freedom of unions and societies, the church, etc.); 7) The electoral system.

In the constitution, the principles should not be separated from the other articles but should be incorporated as the first articles at the beginning of the constitution.

An introduction is, in my opinion, unnecessary.

I think a referendum should be introduced.

As for grain purchases, the plan will have to be somewhat reduced. Everyone complains that the plan is too large. If we reduce it for Ukraine by 10 million puds, for the North Caucasus by 7 million puds, for the Azov-Black Sea Territory by 5 or 6 million puds, and set aside another 25–30 million for reducing the plan for other oblasts, then we could keep the plan at 250–240 million puds.

Greetings!

September 26, 1935.

Yours, I. STALIN.

Pisma I.V. Stalina V.M. Molotovu 1925–1936. Moscow, 1995. Pp. 253–254.