Telegram V.M. Molotov and I.V. Stalin to the leadership of the Ukrainian SSR on measures to combat drought.

 May 14, 1934

A source: Famine in the USSR 1929-1934. Volume 3. Summer 1933 - 1934 M .: MFD, 2011. Pp. 329

Archive: AP RF. F. 3. Op. 40. D. 92. L. 143. Copy.No. 248

Telegram V.M. Molotov and I.V. Stalin to the leadership of the Ukrainian SSR 1 * on measures to combat drought 2 *

In view of the threat of drought in some regions of the USSR, 206 of the Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars oblige you:

1. Ensure complete reseeding of dead winter crops.

2. Organize careful monitoring of the state of spring crops, timely informing the Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars about the areas subject to reseeding.

3. In addition to the obligatory re-sowing of dead crops, sow an additional 900 thousand hectares of grain crops in excess of the current plan for your republic.

Use for additional sowing areas intended for non-cereal spring crops, but remaining unseeded due to lack of seeds, as well as other free land and partially fallow. Pay special attention to the use of low-lying lands for this purpose.

To ensure an additional sowing plan, we release to you in the order of a seed loan of millet 11,500 tons, buckwheat 1000 tons, sunflower 5000 tons, lentils 5000 tons.

The above-mentioned additional sowing areas are subject to only half of the mandatory grain deliveries.

Inform the Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars 3 * about the measures you have taken and the breakdown of the additional sowing plan by regions .

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Molotov

Secretary of the Central Committee I. Stalin

1 * In the Central Committee of the CP (b) U - S.V. Kosioru, P.P. Postyshev and SNK Ukrainian SSR - P.P. Lyubchenko. Copy - M.M. Khataevich, E.I. Weger, N.N. Demchenko.

2 * Appendix to paragraph 120/104 of the meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) No. 7 of May 26, 1934. Adopted by a poll of the PB members of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) on May 14, 1934.

3 * Telegrams of similar content were sent to other regions of the country (see ibid., Fol. 137-144).

206 The problem of drought was relevant in the Soviet countryside during all the years of collectivization. Stalin also paid attention to it. For example, on March 23, 1932, in the wake of the arid 1931, he spoke at a PB meeting with a report on the fight against drought, in particular on the irrigation of the arid regions of the Volga, N. Dnieper and Manych (Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) -VKP (b ). Agenda of meetings. 1919-1952. Vol. II. 1930-1939. P. 285). The drought problem persisted in 1934. For example, in the summaries of the reports of the deputy chiefs of the political department of the MTS on the work of the OGPU for June 5 and 9, 1934, it was reported about prayers in the Soviet village in connection with the drought (CA FSB of Russia. F. 3. Op. 1 D. 779.L. 355-356, 385-387).