January 2 (15), 1918

I recommend the bearer, Comrade Solovyov, and ask that you give him every assistance, especially in the matter of the arrest of counter‑revolutionary organisations.

Lenin effective units, arrested and shot members of soldiers’ committees. Following the arrest of the Romanian Embassy and the Romanian military mission, the Council of People’s Commissars on the same day presented an ultimatum by radio to the Romanian government demanding the immediate release of the arrested Russian soldiers, warning that the Soviet government would take retaliatory military measures.

On the afternoon of January 1 (14), Lenin and Stalin received representatives of the diplomatic corps. In view of the fact that the representatives of the diplomatic corps gave their promise to exert influence on the Romanian government, the Council of People’s Commissars on the evening of January 1 (14) resolved to release the arrested officials of the Romanian Embassy, making it a condition that the Romanian authorities fulfil the demands of the Soviet government within three days.