May 17, 1918
Of Special Importance
Top Secret

To the People's Commissar for Military Affairs

In case it becomes necessary to evacuate the valuables of the Republic to especially secure locations, I authorise Comrade T. I. Popov, Commissar-Manager of the Moscow Office of the People's (State) Bank, to take charge of this matter. He is to receive all necessary instructions on this subject directly from me or from the People's Commissar for Finance, Comrade Gukovsky.¹

I request you, for your part, to render full assistance to Comrade Popov in carrying out the task entrusted to him, by placing at his disposal the necessary, entirely reliable and responsible military guard for escorting the valuables by rail, water and horse-drawn routes, with a sufficient, reliable and experienced command staff, to whom you are to grant extraordinary powers for all types of orders, the limits and character of which you are to agree upon with Comrade Popov.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)