November 14, 1919
Hereby, the Council of People’s Commissars of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic fully empowers citizen Maxim Litvinov, a member of the Collegium of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, to conduct peace negotiations with the governments of republics established within the borders of the former Russian Empire, as well as with the governments of other countries that are either at war or in hostile relations with the Soviet Republic, to submit to these governments—or to receive from them—any and all proposals for peace, and to conclude or sign any preliminary treaties.
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)