## TELEGRAM TO A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV
November 29, 1918
Astrakhan

To Commissar Shlyapnikov[1]

All of your inquiries I am forwarding to the proper authorities. Do not worry. I am writing by courier[2].

Lenin

[1] A. G. Shlyapnikov—had been a member of the party since 1901. Following the October Socialist Revolution, he entered the Council of People's Commissars as Commissar of Labor, subsequently heading the Commissariat of Trade and Industry. In 1918 he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front. Later he worked in trade union and economic affairs. In 1920–1922 he was the organizer and leader of the anti-party group of the "Workers' Opposition." In 1933, during the party purge, he was expelled from the ranks of the VKP(b).

[2] In a letter to V. I. Lenin dated November 21, 1918, A. G. Shlyapnikov requested that 5,000 bayonets, 20 artillery pieces, and other technical means be sent to the Southern Front, and asked for energetic support in connection with a possible threat from Turkey. On November 29, Lenin wrote a reply to Shlyapnikov in which he reported receiving his letter of November 21 and telegrams, promised to render assistance in fulfilling requests for strengthening the front, and proposed preparing deputies in case Shlyapnikov had to leave due to illness (see Lenin Miscellany XXXVII, p. 110). Written on November 29, this letter was sent later by courier, and on that day Lenin sent the published telegram.

## DIRECTIVE TO N. A. SEMASHKO[1]
December 5, [1918]

To the People's Commissariat of Public Health
Comrade Semashko

I hereby propose that you render full assistance in an urgent manner to the representative of the Grozny Central Soviet of Deputies, Comrade B. D. Pinson, in the distribution for the needs of the population of the Grozny district of necessary medications and bandaging materials for five soviet pharmacies and three medical facilities, taking into account that the population of the aforementioned district numbers up to 60,000.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

*Printed from a typewritten copy

[1] On December 5, 1918, V. I. Lenin met with the representative of the Grozny Central Soviet of Deputies B. D. Pinson; heard his report on the situation in the city of Grozny, surrounded by troops of interventionists and White Guards; signed directives to the Commissariat of Internal Affairs—concerning rendering aid to the Grozny Soviet with money; to the Commissariat of Food—to render assistance to Pinson in obtaining manufactures and the necessary quantity of glass for the needs of the local population; to the Main Committee of the Paper Industry—with a proposal to urgently distribute for the needs of local institutions and schools the necessary quantity of paper (see Lenin Miscellany XXXIX, p. 201), as well as the published directive to N. A. Semashko.

N. A. Semashko—a member of the party since 1893. Following the Great October Socialist Revolution—head of the medical-sanitary department of the Moscow Soviet. In 1918–1930—People's Commissar of Public Health of the RSFSR.

## TELEGRAM TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE TAMBOV PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
February 13, 1919

Tambov

To the Presidium of the Provincial Executive Committee
Copy to Provincial Finance Department—Herm­ann

I propose that in the interests of the proper functioning of the most necessary financial institutions, do not engage employees of the treasuries, revenue-expenditure accounting, budget-cash department, and clerical work on the extraordinary tax levy in work on snow clearing from the railroads.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

*Printed from the text written in the hand of an unknown person, signed and dated by V. I. Lenin

*The document bears a receipt from B. D. Pinson for receipt of the original.