V. I.

Lenin

259

TELEGRAM TO A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV

12. II. 1919

Shlyapnikov
Astrakhan

Your telegram about Baku affairs [1] received. I hope you
understand the tremendous importance of the question and
will take the most energetic steps to make use of the feeling
among the Baku people for swift and decisive action.
Guarantee safety for those who come over to us. Telegraph
more details.

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

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Notes:
[1]
On February 6, 1919, Shlyapnikov reported to Lenin information he had received from Baku to the effect that the workers of
Baku enterprises and the sailors were hostile towards the
British occupationists, that the ships, on which there were still
Russian sailors, were ready to go over to the side of the Soviets, and
that the Baku workers would start an uprising to coincide with
the Red Army attack.