This telegram was sent to L. D. Trotsky in
Brest under the signatures of Lenin and I. V. Stalin on February 10
1948, i.e., on the day of the breakdown of the peace negotiations and the announcement
by L. D. Trotsky of the declaration of refusal to sign the annexationist
peace treaty and of the declaration that the state of war was
terminated.
Judging by the word "Answer" written by I. V. Stalin at the beginning of the telegram, this telegram was prompted by a request
from L. D. Trotsky from Brest (not found), on how to react to the
German ultimatum.
Apparently, Lenin had this telegram in mind when in his speech at the VII Party Congress he stated: "I proposed
quite definitely to sign the peace." (Works, Vol. XXXII, p. 333.)
O.
£M<M>
* TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY.
Brest-Litovsk
Russian Peace Delegation.
To Trotsky.
[February 10 (January 28), 1918, 6:30 p.m. * *.]
Our point of view is known to You; it has only strengthened
recently and especially after Ioffe's letter *. We repeat
once again that nothing remains of the Kiev Rada and that
the Germans will be forced to recognize the fact, if they have not already
recognized it ' * 2.
Lenin
1 Ioffe's letter has not been found.
2 Kiev was finally occupied by Soviet troops on February 8
1918. Lenin apparently did not yet know that on February 9 the Germans
had concluded a peace agreement in Brest with the "representatives of the Rada."
* The date was written by I. V. Stalin, he also wrote "Answer" ahead of the address and
text. Ed.
** I. V. Stalin added here: "Inform us more often."
Ed.
*** After Lenin's signature, I. V. Stalin signed: "Stalin." Ed.