Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

391DRAFT DECREE ON THE NATIONALISATIONOF THE BANKS AND ON MEASURES NECESSARYFOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION 147The critical food situation and the threat of famine causedby the profiteering and sabotage of the capitalists andofficials, as well as by the general economic ruin, make itimperative to adopt extraordinary revolutionary measuresto combat this evil.To enable all citizens of the state, and in the first placeall the working classes to undertake this struggle under theleadership of their Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Peasants’Deputies, and normalise the country’s economic lifeimmediately and comprehensively, stopping at nothing andacting in the most revolutionary manner, the followingregulations are decreed:DRAFT DECREEON THE NATIONALISATION OF THE BANKSAND ON MEASURES NECESSARYFOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION1. All joint-stock companies are proclaimed the propertyof the state.2. Members of boards and directors of joint-stock companies,as well as all shareholders belonging to the wealthyclasses (i.e., possessing property to the value of over 5,000rubles or an income exceeding 500 rubles per month), shallbe obliged to continue to conduct the affairs of these enterprisesin good order, observing the law on workers’ control,