* Chief Oil Industry Administration. --Tr.
page 135
nimise the danger in his "memo". That is the height of stupidity. The opinions of all the Glavneft experts should be read and compared with Dosser's toned-down conclusion.
   
(b) Dosser formulates his conclusion as follows: "There is doubtful benefit in inviting a concessionaire." It looks as though he has, like the truly well-intentioned fool that he is, scared his experts into believing that an anti-concession stand is the only decent one to take for a "Soviet" citizen. That's a really "good turn" he has done us!
   
In the practical plane, the reports of the Glavneft experts (which are business-like and are strictly borne out by the "end of 1920" printed report) clarify the kind of terms we should lay down for the concessionaire.
   
It is, of course, "doubtful" whether a concessionaire can be found on these terms. But no politician in his right mind would consult Dosser or the experts on that.
   
It is up to us to make every effort to find such concessionaires.
   
If we don't, so much the worse for us.
   
If we fail to make an all-out effort to find a concessionaire, we shall find ourselves bankrupt.
   
The working out of the terms must be speeded up.
   
An immediate start must be made in fighting a highly dangerous prejudice which could easily carry a section of the workers and which must be debunked at any cost. It is this "idea": "We don't want to work for the capitalists", or its variant, "We don't want to work for the capitalists when workers nearby are not doing it".
   
The harm of it (refuted by the R.C.P. Programme and Marxism in general) is evident from this rough calculation, which epitomises the conclusion given in the experts' reports.
   
We are extracting 100a of oil.
   
Output is dropping.
   
Flooding threatens disaster.
   
If we get a concessionaire, who will help to extract 100a + 100b of oil, and if we have to pay him 98b for this, our output will rise, instead of dropping, even if ever so slowly (100a + 2b ).
page 136
   
Here is the question: are the workers who give the concessionaire 98b out of the 100b working for "the capitalists" or for the Soviet power?
   
There is no difficulty about the answer.
   
Please go over the enclosed material and reports urgently, to allow us to take a decision as soon as possible. There is extreme danger in any delay.
   
February 12, 1921
Lenin