November 14, 1919
Hereby, the Council of People’s Commissars of the Russian Federative Socialist Soviet Republic fully empowers Citizen Maxim Litvinov, member of the Collegium of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs and head of the Russian Red Cross, to conduct negotiations with the governments of Great Britain and other nations regarding the exchange of civilian prisoners and military internees, to resolve the issue of the status of Russian citizens abroad and of foreign nationals residing in Russia, to take all measures he deems necessary to safeguard the interests of the Russian Republic and of Russian citizens, to contract loans in amounts required to carry out the tasks entrusted to him, and, in all of the aforementioned matters, to conclude and sign treaties on behalf of the Soviet Republic. All representatives and envoys abroad of every Commissariat and institution of the Russian Republic are instructed to render every possible assistance to Citizen Litvinov and to comply with all of his lawful demands.
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars
Vl. Ulyanov (Lenin)