Hryhoriy Petrovskyi speech

Opening our 9th Congress of Soviets today, we must recall the circumstances under which the 8th All-Ukrainian Congress took place. It was a year and a half ago, when we still had hope that Lenin would recover. This hope did not come true: Lenin died. (The whole hall stands up. The workers perform the Lenin's testaments.)

But we must say that in the year and a half after Lenin's death, we have done a lot to implement his will. The union of workers and peasants is getting stronger, there are reasons to believe that we will soon turn into reality all those forms of union of workers and peasants that Comrade Lenin talked about and dreamed of. We fulfilled, and keep on fulfilling all other testaments of Lenin, we can confidently say that the memory of this Great Teacher of humanity will never die among us. (In extreme silence, the orchestra performs a mournful march; the choir of the orphanage named after VUCVK performs a cantata in memory of Lenin, which makes the deepest impression on all present, including diplomats).

The national economy of Ukraine is improving. The economic condition of Ukraine has significantly improved over the past year. We are witnessing the rapid growth of the national economy, especially industry. We are on the eve of opening not only factories whose work was once interrupted, but also building new ones. And it is quite natural that, next to and with the advancement of the welfare of the working masses, their cultural needs are constantly growing. The desire of the broad masses of the population for education, for knowledge, is now so great that the government, having a limited budget, cannot yet fully satisfy.

The main focus is on agriculture. Unfortunately, before the congress, we have to state that natural disasters, again and again, impede the normal development of agriculture in Ukraine. These natural disasters cause great damage because the peasantry still uses old means of farming. In the field of work in the countryside, our next task now is to lead the peasantry to multi-field and collective land use. The government hopes to get the All-Ukrainian Congress of Councils as the highest legislative body of Ukraine. Instructions on the necessary measures that the future VUCVK and the Council of People's Commissariats should implement for the further improvement of the state of agriculture.

Our successes in the national issue. I must also note the successes achieved by the government of Ukraine in the national issue. We satisfied the wishes of the national minorities of Ukraine in the field of their national cultural and economic development. Everyone knows that we have formed a lot of national councils in Ukraine, that we have given minorities full opportunity to develop their culture. The formation of AMSRR is only part of our national policy. The further resolution of the national question, which we have begun and will continue, will show that only the power of the councils can ensure the development of national cultures (Petrovsky's words are covered by thunderous applause, which turns into an ovation).

Other speakers

Following Petrovsky, another speech titled as "The strength of the Soviet power lies in the steadfast union of the Communist Party and the workers" was given by the recently elected General Secretary of the Communist Party (bolsheviks) of Ukraine Lazar Kaganovich.

After Kaganovich, a word had the head of the All-Ukrainian council of trade unions comrade Ugarov and a member of the Ukrainian Central Commission of Poor Peasants comrade Odynets. Next, comrade Kamenev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, delivered a long report on the activities of the All-Union Government.