V. I.   Lenin

420

TELEGRAM TO J. V. STALIN


Published: First published in 1965 in Collected Works, Fifth Ed., Vol. 51. Printed from the decoded text.
Source: Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1975, Moscow, Volume 44, page 281b.
Translated: Clemens Dutt
Transcription\Markup: R. Cymbala
Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive.   You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work, as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.README


Stalin
Headquarters, Western Front

The Politbureau asks you to explain the motives for your decision in regard to Marchlewski. We are surprised that you countermand a decision of the Central Committee all on your own without letting us know.[1]

On behalf of the Politbureau,
Lenin

September 1, 1919


Notes

[1] In his reply to Lenin on September 2, 1919, Stalin wired that on the day of Marchlewski’s arrival to conduct negotiations with the Lithuanians, the latter suddenly launched an attack. Obviously, the telegram pointed out, the Lithuanians had used talk about negotiations as a cover in order to lull the vigilance of the Soviet Government. Stalin stated that he had not received any decisions of the Central Committee about conducting negotiations. “Today,” he wrote further, “our counter-offensive has begun. We have issued an order to Front Headquarters to heighten vigilance and not allow any envoys to pass the front line without its knowledge and consent.”


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