Selections from Dimitrov's Diaries - middle cadres

November 7, 1937

Lunch at Voroshilov's (after the demonstartion)

Voroshilov's toast to Stalin

Stalin; I would like to say a few words, perhaps not festive ones.

(...)

...Therefore , whoever attempts to destroy that unity of the socialist state, whoever seeks the separation of any of its parts or nationalities - that man is an enemy, a sworn enemy of the state and of the peoples of the USSR. And we will destroy each and every such enemy, even if he was an old Bolshevik; we will destroy all his kin, his family. We will mercilessly destroy anyone who, by his deeds or his thoughts - yes his thoughts - threatens the unity of socialist state. To the complete destruction of all enemies, themselves and their kin!

(..)

Stalin : I have not finished my toast. A great deal is said about great leaders. But a cause is never won unless the right conditions exists. And the main thing here is the middle cadres - party, economic, military. They are the ones who choose the leader, explain our positions to the masses, and ensure the success of our cause. They don't try to climb above their station; you don't even notice them.

Dimitrov; And to the one who inspires them, show them the way, and leads them - to comrade Stalin!

Stalin; No , No. The main thing is the middle cadres. Generals can do nothing without a good officer corps. Why did we prevail over Trotsky and the rest? Trotsky , as we know, was the most popular man in our country after Lenin. Bukharin, Zinoiev, Rykov, Thomsky were all popular. We were little known, I myself, Molotov, Voroshilov, and Kalinin, then. We were field workers in Lenin's time, his colleagues. But the middle cadres supported us, explained our positions to the masses. Meanwhile Trotsky completely ignored those cadres...

Voroshilov and Molotov; Dimitrov wants to propose a toast!

Dimitrov; There is nothing I can add to what comrade Stalin has said about a merciless struggle against enemies and about the significance of middle cadres. .........following Lenin, comrade Stalin has carried on his cause with such unswervigness and genius, through every sharp turning point, and has ensured the victory of our cause. There can be no speaking of Lenin without linking him with Stalin !  (all lift their glasses)

Stalin: I respect comrade Dimitrov very much. We are friends and will remain friends. But I must disagree with him. He has even expressed himself here in an anti-Marxist fashion. What the victory of the cause requires the correct conditions, and then leaders will always be found. It is not enough merely to point out the true path. ... The fundamental thing is the middle cadres. That must be noted, and it must never be forgotten that other conditions being equal, the middle cadres decide the outcome of  our cause. 

--
After lunch- at he Kremlin - we watched a film about Lenin..

Source

Diaries of Georgi Dimitrov

It is not the full text , extracted for the subject .EA