Vyacheslav!

I have just received your letter.

1) It is very good that the Politburo has opened an attack against Rykov and company. Although Bukharin is apparently not visible in this affair, he is undoubtedly the chief instigator and inciter against the party. Understandably, in the party of Sukhanov-Kondratyev, where he (Bukharin) would be the "extreme left," he would feel more at home than in the VKP(b), where he can be nothing but a thoroughly rotten defeatist and moribund opportunist. Of course, Bogolepov must be driven out. But matters cannot stop there. The disciples of Bogolepov-Groman-Sokolnikov-Kondratyev must also be driven out. That means we must drive out Rykov and his company. This is now inevitable. We can no longer tolerate this rot at the top of the Soviet economic apparatus.

But this is between us for now.

2) The CC directives on procurements are very good. The procurements business will move forward.

3) The replacement of Amosov by Semyonov will, I think, improve matters.

4) You should postpone your leave. Without you there (at the Politburo) things will be very difficult. I will be in Moscow by mid-October. If you cannot postpone your leave until then, at least wait for Sergo's return. Otherwise a difficult situation may arise.

5) Has Voroshilov returned yet? Send my regards.

Warm regards.

Stalin.

P.S. If Rykov and company try to stick their heads out again, hit them on the forehead. We have spared them enough. To spare them now means committing a crime.

P.P.S. I propose distributing Kuznetsov's statement (from Gosplan) to CC and CCC members.

Source: Letters of I.V. Stalin to V.M. Molotov. 1925-1936. Pp. 220-221.

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