If you say so I will not dispute your undoubtedly greater knowledge of that subject, but cannot help noting Wikipedia quoting his "testament" as saying, Stalin already had "unlimited authority" that he should not and urging "comrades think about a way of removing Stalin from that post." Wikipedia does not provide a specific citation for that, however, nor its claim that Lenin used the language "Сталин слишком груб," which Wikipedia further claims "implies 'personal rudeness, unnecessary roughness, lack of finesse', flaws 'intolerable in a Secretary-General.'"" If any of that is even somewhat accurate, and in conjunction with the letter you referenced, I would argue that if Stalin did not murder Lenin or have him murdered it is only because he could not.


Perhaps I am being unduly suspicious again. Wikipedia also attributes the following statement on Lenin to Churchill:

"[Russias] worst misfortune was his birth... their next worst his death."

In Stalins case, just the opposite was true, though, once again, motive is not means or opportunity, much less proof.