People's Commissar of Foreign Trade. Foreign trade of the USSR

25.11.2015

90 years ago, On November 18, 1925, the People's Commissariat for Foreign and Internal Trade of the USSR (Narkomtorg USSR) was created. The department was formed by merging the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR and the People's Commissariat of Internal Trade of the USSR.

In 1930, the People's Commissariat of Trade of the USSR was reorganized: the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR and the People's Commissariat of Supply of the USSR were separated from it.

The archival fund “People's Commissariat for Foreign and Internal Trade (Narkomtorg) of the USSR” (1925 - 1930, 11683 items) is stored in the Russian State Archive of Economics (F. 5240).

The history of the department is richly represented in the RSAE funds:

F. 413. “Ministry of Foreign Trade of the USSR (Ministry of Foreign Trade of the USSR)” (1917 - 1988, 18401 items)

F. 272. “All-Union Association for the Export of Animal Raw Materials and Waste (Raznoexport) of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1930, 7 items)

F. 4433. “All-Union Association for Trade with Foreigners (Torgsin) of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1931 - 1935, 177 items)

F. 8336. “All-Union Association for the Import of Non-Ferrous Metals into the USSR (Tsvetmetimport) of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1927 - 1931, 103 items)

F. 8340. “All-Union Association for the Import of Equipment, Raw Materials and Semi-finished Products for the Electrical Industry and Electrical Construction (Electroimport) of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1926 - 1934, 96 items)

F. 4079. “All-Union Association for the Import of Chemical Goods for Industries and Special Equipment for Chemical Production (Khimimport) of the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1926 - 1932, 197 items)

F. 8345. “All-Union Association for the Export of Handicrafts and Carpets (Kovkustexport) of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1928 - 1936, 148 items)

F. 8397. “All-Union State Trust of Fur Farming (Soyuzzverovod) of the Main Directorate of Fur and Hunting Farm “Glavpushnina” of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1932 - 1936, 122 items)

F. 289. “Main Directorate of Fur Farming (Glavpushnina) of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1934 - 1936, 1939 - 1944, 149 items)

F. 4344. “All-Union Association for the Procurement of Secondary Export Agricultural Raw Materials and New Types of Export Goods (Soyuzzagotexport) of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1929 - 1933, 507 items)

F. 4039. “State import-export trade office (Gostorg RSFSR) of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the RSFSR and the office of the authorized People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the RSFSR for the reorganization of Gostorg of the RSFSR" (1922 - 1930, 7284 items of storage)

F. 6882. “State united board (association) for oil trade abroad (Neftexport) of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade of the RSFSR” (1922, 24 items).

F. 8151. “Commission on Internal Trade at the Service Station of the USSR and the People's Commissariat of Internal Trade of the USSR” (1922 - 1925, 1706 items)

F. 3600. “All-Union Council of Exchange Trade Congresses under the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1923 - 1930, 966 items)

F. 8197. “Office of the State Grain Inspectorate (GHI) of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade of the USSR” (1923 - 1930, 97 items)

Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign Trade of the RSFSR in 1920 - 1922, People's Commissar of Internal Trade of the USSR in 1922 - 1924. A.M. Lezhavy (1870 - 1937) (RGAE. F. 92);

Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign Trade of the RSFSR in 1921 - 1922. I.I. Radchenko (1874 - 1942) (RGAE. F. 9455);

Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign and Internal Trade of the USSR in 1927 - 1930, People's Commissar of Internal Trade of the RSFSR in 1934 - 1937. Khinchuk L.M. (1868 - 1939) (RGAE. F. 4269).

December 19, 1927 - June 25, 1937 - member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks.
1928 - during the heyday of the cooperative movement, by order of I. Lyubimov, an international competition was held for the construction of the Centrosoyuz building in Moscow; the majestic building was built in 1929-1931. designed by the famous Le Corbusier. During the famine of 1932, construction of the Central Union building was suspended and completed in 1933-1936. In 1932, the People's Commissariat of Light Industry of the USSR was created, headed by Lyubimov. Therefore, the building of the Central Union was given to the People's Commissariat of Light Industry.

Head of foreign trade

11.1930 - 1931 - Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign and Domestic Trade of the USSR.
11.1930 - 1931 - Trade Representative of the USSR in Germany, head of Trade Missions and foreign trade in Europe.

At this time, I. Lyubimov was in the most important positions in the foreign trade system - during the period of unfolding industrialization in the country, contracts were concluded through him for the supply of equipment and entire factories to the USSR, and grain was exported. Lyubimov had to work during the difficult years of the global crisis: suffice it to say that world prices for wheat, the main export product of the USSR, fell several times during these years.

People's Commissar of Light Industry of the USSR

January 5, 1932 - The People's Commissariat of Light Industry of the USSR was created.
January 5, 1932 - September 7, 1937 - People's Commissar of Light Industry of the USSR.
April 9 - 12, 1932 - in Vichuga, one of the main textile centers of Russia, the largest strike in the Stalinist period occurred, which was accompanied by street clashes and pogroms of government institutions.

In 1937, Yezhov’s “investigation” of the “extremely important Vichuga events” will launch a repressive mechanism in the central apparatus of the People’s Commissariat of Light Industry, into the millstone of which I. Lyubimov will also fall.

February 4, 1934 - speech by People's Commissar I. Lyubimov at the XVII Congress of the CPSU (b).

From Lyubimov’s report:

“During the second five-year plan, the production of light industry should increase, taking into account the amendments that I want to introduce to the congress, by 2.5 times compared to the level of production achieved in 1932. The growth in production, as you can see, is colossal. In the second five-year period, light industry enters a new stage of unprecedentedly high rates of annual growth in production. In terms of the volume of light industry production provided for under the second five-year plan, the Soviet Union is one of the first places in Europe, catching up with America. Taking into account the amendments, we must produce more than 5 billion m of cotton fabrics in 1937 against 2,534 million m in 1932, that is, as a result of the second five-year plan, the output of cotton fabrics will be doubled. In 1937, we should produce 220 million m of woolen fabrics against 91 million m in 1932, which will be an increase of 2.5 times. Linen fabrics should be produced in 560 million m compared to 130 million m in 1932, that is, an increase of more than 4 times. Shoes need to be produced in 1937, 160 million pairs compared to 73 million in 1932, that is, an increase of more than 2 times. The production of glass and porcelain products is increasing by more than 2 times, the production of sewing products is increasing by more than 2 times, the production of knitwear is increasing by more than 4 times, etc.”

“A large program of technical reconstruction is provided for in the second five-year plan in the field of weaving in the cotton industry. From the non-automated weaving looms of the Platt system currently in use, we are moving to arming the cotton industry with automatic weaving machines and to automating existing weaving looms. In the field of weaving automation, our engineers have produced a number of most valuable inventions, giving serious reasons to believe that in the coming years the type of automatic weaving loom in the production system of our Union will be one of the best. All newly built cotton mills are being equipped with automatic looms, and an extensive program of measures is being taken to automate existing looms. The percentage of automatic and automated machines in the cotton industry by the end of the second five-year plan is brought to approximately 50 against 10-12 in 1932. Automation of weaving significantly reduces the need for labor for the developing cotton industry.”

“As an illustration showing the extent to which our requirements for equipment are increasing, I will point out that against 100 million rubles. technological equipment offered by the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry for light industry in 1934, in 1935 we will need one technological equipment worth over 500 million rubles"

“During the first five-year plan, 1,200 million rubles were invested in light industry. Over 200 new enterprises were put into operation. During the second five-year plan, over 9 billion rubles are invested in light industry. As you can see, the growth in capital investment is exceptionally high.” “The main objects for the construction of light industry during the second five-year period are indicated in the theses of the main speakers presented to the congress, and are given in large expanded form in the report of Comrade Kuibyshev. From the theses and from the report of Comrade Kuibyshev, you saw that the bulk of capital investments in light industry are directed to national and so-called industrially backward areas. During the second five-year period we must carry out a huge program of building new enterprises in raw material and consumption areas.”

Series: Soviet holidays. Builder's Day

Builder's Day was first celebrated in the USSR on August 12, 1956. And it was like that. On September 6, 1955, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the establishment of the annual holiday “Builder’s Day” (on the second Sunday of August) was issued. The laconicism of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is proof that Builder's Day did not appear by chance, and that its appearance seemed to go without saying. Here's how the newspapers commented on it:
“A new manifestation of the party and government’s concern for builders is the Resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted on August 23, 1955 “On measures for further industrialization, improving the quality and reducing the cost of construction.” This resolution analyzes the state of construction with completeness and clarity and determines further paths for the broad industrialization of the construction business" ("Construction Newspaper", September 7, 1955).

“We builders have a big day! Newspapers and radio spread the message throughout the country that the party and government had adopted a resolution to radically improve the construction industry. At the same time, a Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was published on the annual holiday - “Builder's Day”.
A feeling of pride in our country, in our profession and warm gratitude to the party and government for caring about us, builders, filled our hearts...”

Builder's Day was celebrated on August 12. On this day, newspapers wrote: “Builder’s Day, celebrated today for the first time, will henceforth be included in the calendar as a national holiday,” and this was not an exaggeration. Today it’s hard to imagine, but in 1956 the country celebrated the builders’ holiday with considerable enthusiasm, including festivities in cultural and recreation parks. Newspaper reports again allow you to feel the atmosphere of those days:
“Moscow celebrated the holiday of builders with mass celebrations, exhibitions, reports and lectures. The Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure was especially crowded. A meeting of builders of the Leninsky district of the capital took place here, who built the architectural ensemble of the Moscow State University building, blocks of residential buildings in the southwest of the capital, and the stadium named after V.I. Lenin, where the flag of the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR is now raised. The builders of the district made a decision - to commission 210 thousand square meters by December 20. m of living space."
“On Sunday, the Chelyabinsk Park of Culture and Recreation was filled with about forty thousand construction workers. A rally took place here..."

"Baku. A solemn meeting of the Baku City Council of Workers' Deputies together with representatives of party, Soviet and public organizations dedicated to Builder's Day was held here. The meeting was attended by the parliamentary delegation of Uruguay visiting here...”

"Tbilisi. On August 11 and 12, folk festivities dedicated to Builder's Day took place in the capital of Georgia. Thousands of workers visited the Permanent Construction Exhibition that opened in the Ordzhonikidze Central Park of Culture and Leisure. It is developed according to a new thematic plan. The main idea of the exhibition is to show elements of precast reinforced concrete, large-block construction and advanced industrial methods of construction and installation work.”

It is curious that many traditions laid down at the dawn of the celebration of Builder’s Day have survived to this day: awards for the holiday, ceremonial meetings with the participation of representatives of government agencies, and simply feasts, which the press of those years does not mention, but which, without a doubt, , took place. It’s just that specialized exhibitions are no longer dedicated to Builder’s Day. And maybe in vain...

Whether he is in a suit, with a new tie,
If he were in the lime, like a snow woman.
Each builder, in a phrase, in a word,
He recognizes the foreman by the interjection!
Here he stands up to his full height,
He makes a toast loudly:
To everyone who levels the wall
Spirit level-trowel,
Who pushes the work
With kind words and swear words,
Who had lunch in the change house,
I ate sausage with radishes,
Who hung with his feet in the sky
On the mounting belt,
To everyone who works in bad weather
With a crowbar, a drill and a saw,
We wish: build happiness!
And don't stand under the arrow!

] as a system used to evade the obligations assumed by the People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade are stupid and malicious slander. The foreign trade monopoly embodies the principles of the strictest execution by the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade of concluded obligations and agreements, and in all trade activities of Foreign Trade bodies since the resumption of foreign trade of the Soviet Republic in 1920, not a single case of failure by trade missions to fulfill any of their concluded obligations can be indicated. Of course, the monopoly of foreign trade is a powerful enough weapon in the hands of the Soviet state in order to more successfully fight those who seek to undermine the economic interests of our country or damage our trade. But even in those cases where the Soviet government is forced, due to aggressive actions on the part of any organization, to make one or another change in the direction of its goods or in the issuance of orders, the exact fulfillment of the concluded obligations under contracts always remains an unshakable condition; even when our trade mission in Germany in May of this year was subjected to an unheard-of attack by the Prussian police, who carried out this act of lawlessness, even in secret from our own Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even then the People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade, limiting and reducing trade relations with Germany, not even one day did not suspend the execution of current contracts or settlements under concluded contracts and transactions. When a year ago the Soviet government was forced, as a result of a hostile act that interfered with our trade, to stop issuing orders to France, the English company Arcos, which carried out these instructions from the Soviet government, appointed a special trustee to liquidate the transactions that had already begun, and we are not aware of any complaints from French companies who had trade deals with Arkos. It would be a great pity if the good business relations established by Soviet economic organizations with Amtorg or through it and with other American firms were spoiled by a slanderous campaign, but all firms and persons who entered into agreements or transactions with Soviet organizations have sufficient authority to do so from the People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade or its bodies, can be fully confident in the accurate and timely fulfillment of obligations; and it is the system of monopoly of foreign trade, which ensures the strictest government control over all these transactions, that gives the best guarantee of the exact fulfillment of all obligations.

People's Commissar for Foreign Trade Krasin

Notes:

Amtorg (American Trading Corporation) was formed in New York on May 27, 1924 by merging the Prodexco and Arcos-America companies. The NKID advocated that the new society should have the character of a private institution. “Persons who will be appointed leaders of society,” wrote M. M. Litvinov to L. B. Krasin on January 31, 1924, “should be strictly instilled in them so that under no circumstances should they act in the United States as agents of Soviet power " I. Ya. Khurgin proposed several options for the name of the company: Trade Society of the Union of Soviet Republics (TO USSR), Soviet-American Trade Society (SATOR), American Trade Society (Amtorg). As a result of the discussion, it was decided to go with the last name.

The main functions and methods of activity of the company were determined on the basis of the latter’s agreement with the NKVT of November 28, 1924. The NKVT assumed the obligation to provide Amtorg with licenses for the export of raw materials of all types allowed for export for sale in North and South America, licenses for import into the USSR from North and South America for sale on the internal market of the Union of all types of raw materials, semi-finished products, industrial goods allowed for import into the USSR. In turn, Amtorg assumed the obligation to pay the NKVT an annual “remuneration” in the amount of 50% of net profit. But this condition was practically not observed. In 1931, the Office of Tax Complaints in the United States stated that, contrary to the agreement between Amtorg and the NKVT of November 28, 1924, Amtorg transferred the entire amount of profits to the NKVT. The connection between Amtorg and the NKVT was extremely close. But in Soviet party and state circles, the complete independence of Amtorg from the NKVT and its position as an independent Russian-American society were strongly emphasized. The desire to deny the state character of Amtorg was due to both political and economic factors. From an economic point of view, this was due to the problem of taxation of Amtorg. As a non-state trading company, Amtorg enjoyed some tax benefits. In the spring of 1931, the US tax collector imposed an additional tax on Amtorg, based on the fact that Amtorg was a company controlled by the Soviet government. This tax was significantly higher than the amount that Amtorg paid as a trading company. Amtorg's management appealed to the US Tax Complaints Department, citing the fact that Amtorg's shares were the property of a number of individuals and cooperative organizations. From a political point of view, it was extremely undesirable to advertise the state character of Amtorg, so as not to focus the attention of American business and political circles on the fact that Amtorg, in addition to commercial ones, also performs political tasks (RGAE. F. 413. Op. 13. D. 96 L. 30, ZZ vol., 52‑52 vol., 72; Op. 17. D. 521. L. 25; Op. 22. D. 80. L. 329).

On April 22, 1918, a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR on the nationalization of foreign trade was published. It said: “All foreign trade will be nationalized. Trade transactions for the purchase and sale of all kinds of products with foreign states and individual trading enterprises abroad are carried out on behalf of the Russian Republic by specially authorized bodies. Apart from these bodies, all trade transactions... for export and import are prohibited (Collection of current decrees and resolutions on foreign trade. M., 1924. p. 11). The body leading foreign trade was the People's Commissariat of Trade and Industry. With the introduction of NEP the situation changed. The order of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR dated March 11, 1921 stated that “in order to develop trade relations with foreign countries, economic bodies should be given the right to participate in foreign transactions and implement them, as well as the right to have their own representative offices at foreign bodies of the NKVT.” The provision of some freedom in the foreign market was due to the state’s desire to intensify foreign economic activity. The rights of the NKVT in the field of foreign trade were determined by a decree of August 9, 1921, according to which it became the main procurer of export raw materials. The state transferred the republican export fund to the NKVT, which was supposed to ensure its stable position in the conditions of possible competition with state institutions and cooperation. By the Decree of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of March 13, 1922, the NKVT was entrusted with the function of monitoring and directing the foreign trade of the RSFSR and, in fact, the activities of all institutions operating in this area. An active supporter of strengthening the role of the NKVT in the field of foreign trade was L. B. Krasin. He opposed the implementation of only control functions by the NKVT, believing that “any effective control over organizations directly engaged in foreign trade will be possible only when... the number of these organizations does not exceed a certain limit” (quoted from: Kaufman M. Ya. Organization and regulation of Russian foreign trade. M., 1925. Pp. 58). The desire of the self-supporting commercial and industrial associations that emerged during the first year of the NEP for active foreign trade operations prompted them to demand further easing of the foreign trade monopoly. At the end of 1922, discussions on this issue began in party and state circles, where supporters of maintaining the monopoly of foreign trade and the previously announced principle of allowing some organizations to participate in foreign economic activity won. The position of L. B. Krasin found support in the highest party and state circles, and on April 13, 1923, a special decree limited the circle of institutions that had the right to conduct independent foreign trade operations. There were 25 of them. The rest had to obtain permission to conclude foreign trade transactions from the NKVT in each individual case. The IX Congress of Soviets in the resolution on the new economic policy noted that “the further development of trade relations with foreign countries requires more direct and immediate ties between industry and the foreign market. Finding that the protection of national property and the interests of the most profitable sale in foreign markets of those products that are allowed for export require the state to maintain a monopoly of foreign trade, the IX Congress of Soviets believes that all-Russian and regional cooperative associations of all types, state and industrial associations should Direct execution of export and import operations is permitted (on the basis of special agreements with the NKVT on the admission or restriction of the export or import of certain types of goods and under its control). For the same purposes, the formation should be allowed, with the obligatory participation of the NKVT, of mixed societies for the procurement of export goods within the country, selling them abroad and importing into Soviet Russia the products it needs, with the establishment of customs duties - import and export" (Ibid. p. 68).

Some freedom of foreign economic activity was retained by Arkos, Amtorg, and mixed joint-stock companies. At the second meeting of the NKVT commissioners on January 6, 1924, it was decided to consider the existence of the above-mentioned organizations as NKVT structures with significant freedom of foreign economic activity acceptable. Attempts to break the virtual monopoly position of the NKVT and its structures in the foreign market were made in 1925 by a number of employees of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture (N.D. Kondratyev, Sukhanov, V.G. Groman), who believed that the NKVT apparatus was too cumbersome and reduced the efficiency of foreign trade activities. In particular, N.D. Kondratyev noted that “protectionism in relation to industry of the USSR should be carried out in such a way as not to interfere with the import of tools and means of agricultural production” (Planned Economy. 1925. No. 8. p. 111). But these attempts were not successful. And by the mid-20s, the state, represented by the NKVT, became a virtual monopolist in the foreign trade of the USSR, which was interpreted by party and state circles as one of the greatest achievements of socialist construction.

This refers to the invasion of the German police on May 3, 1924 into the USSR trade mission in Berlin ( Shishkin V. A. The price of recognition. St. Petersburg, 1991. Pp. 130).

This refers to the cessation of issuing entry visas to France to trade workers from the USSR in April 1923.

RGAE. F. 413. Op. 2. D. 1258. L. 6-7. Copy