EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L. B. KAMENEV

[August
1918]
I am in favor of not giving them a separate newspaper, but trying
to incorporate them (as a department) into the peasant newspaper.
Mitrofanov (from Sereda) was at a meeting with them and did not agree
to take them himself.
Yes, I heard, but I don’t think that this statement by one
Mitrofanov

2 is already decisive.
1 The correspondence apparently took place at one of the meetings of the Council of People's Commissars. The discussion concerns the publication of an independent newspaper by the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.
2 A. Kh. Mitrofanov worked at the People's Commissariat of Agriculture from August 7, 1918.

NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN
September 23, 1918
Comrade Chicherin!
I am sending the documents back to you
You did not write the purpose of their dispatch: if that purpose is to consult, then I have nothing
against it. I have not seen Stalin and have not spoken with him
2.
Yours, Lenin
1 It has not been established what documents are being discussed.
2 I. V. Stalin left for Tsaritsyn on September 22, 1918.

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE HEAD OF MILITARY
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE EASTERN FRONT, KATIN

[1918, September, no earlier than 28]
Inform Trotsky
I propose to appoint an investigation and shoot those guilty
of gaping.
| 28/9 the enemy could have blown up the bridge!!! |
Lenin

1917 (DECEMBER) — 1918

1 The telegram concerns the enemy's blowing up of a bridge across the Volga
in Simbirsk. The head of military communications of the Eastern Front, Katyn,
requested technical assistance from Moscow to restore the bridge. On
the telegram is a record by the secretary of the Council of People's Commissars, A. P. Kizas, of L. D. Trotsky's response
that such an order was made three days ago.

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

[September 30, 1918]
Forward to Chicherin:
A severe reprimand must be sent
1) to Miklevich *
for gaping: should have arrested;
2) to Zorin
2 in Piter: how dare they issue documents without Moscow.
3) Appoint an investigation into Zorin and Co.
0.
Lenin
1 The instruction is written on a telegram from the special border commissar
R. A. Muklevich to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, G. V. Chicherin, stating that diplomatic
couriers traveling through the Toroshino station to Pskov are abusing
documents issued by the foreign department in Petrograd, using
them for speculative purposes to transport gold, silver, manufactured goods,
rubber and private belongings under the guise of embassy inventory and diplomatic
correspondence. The telegram contains a record of the secretary's response from Chicherin
stating that he will speak with Petrograd by telephone.
2 S. Zorin is the chairman of the revolutionary tribunal.

NOTE TO B. S. VEISBROD

Dear Comrade Veisbrod!
I send my best greetings and wishes to rest well and to "help" the Europeans well!

15/X - 1918 г.
Yours, Lenin
1 B. S. Veisbrod is a doctor who treated V. I. Lenin.
2 It has not been established what is being discussed.
* Typo; it is referring to R. A. Muklevich.

TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY

[October 23, 1918]
Today Stalin arrived, bringing news of three major victories of our troops near Tsaritsyn; one victory 10 versts
from Tsaritsyn, another — the destruction of 4 regiments of the enemy
by the steppe army near Svetly Yar, which, as it turns out, was
called up by the Tsaritsynites, and the third — near Muzga, where also
4 enemy regiments were destroyed.
Stalin convinced Voroshilov and Minin
2, whom he considers very valuable and irreplaceable workers, not to leave and
to fully obey the orders of the Center; the only reason for their discontent, according to him, is the extreme delay
and non-shipment of shells and cartridges, from which also
a two-hundred-thousand-strong and perfectly motivated
Caucasian army is perishing.
Stalin would very much like to work on the Southern Front; expresses
great concern that people who know little about this front
will make mistakes, of which he provides numerous examples.
Stalin hopes that at work he will be able to convince of the correctness
of his view, and does not make an ultimatum to remove Sytin
and Mekhonoshin
3, agreeing to work with them on the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front, also expressing a desire to be a member
of the Supreme Military Council of the Republic.
In informing you, Lev Davydovich, of all these statements
by Stalin, I ask you to consider them and answer, firstly, whether
you agree to explain yourself personally to Stalin, for which he agrees
to come, and secondly, whether you consider it possible, under
certain specific conditions, to eliminate the former friction and
to establish joint work, which Stalin desires so much.
As for me, I believe that it is necessary to make every effort to establish joint work with
Stalin.
1 The present telegram from V. I. Lenin was caused by great
concern for the state of affairs on the Southern Front. By resolution of the Revolutionary Military Council
of the Republic of September 17, 1918, I. V. Stalin, S. K. Minin, the front commander P. P. Sytin
and the assistant commander K. E. Voroshilov were appointed to the Revolutionary Military Council of the front. Later, K. A. Mekhonoshin was also introduced into the Revolutionary Military Council
of the front. From the very beginning, sharp disagreements arose between Stalin, Minin
and Voroshilov, on the one hand, and Sytin and Mekhonoshin, on the other. Their essence lay in the unwillingness
of the Tsaritsyn workers to reckon with the party line on the use
of old military specialists in the construction of the Red Army, in attempts
to introduce collegiate control of troops, which was rejected by the party. 2 Oct-