V. I.

Lenin

47

To:   THE C.C. OF THE R.S.D.L.P.(B.)

Please include my vote in favour of getting potatoes and arms from the bandits of Anglo-French
imperialism. [1]

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
The Party Central Committee, at its meeting on February 22,
1918, discussed the question of procuring from Britain and France
arms and food necessary for the defence of the Soviet Republic
against the advancing German troops. This was opposed by
the “Left Communists”, who regarded any agreement with the
imperialists as impermissible in principle.

Lenin could not attend the meeting and therefore sent his
opinion to the Central Committee.

The Party Central Committee adopted a resolution recognising the need to use every means to arm and equip the Red Army,
including that of obtaining armaments and equipment from
governments of capitalist countries, while at the same time
pursuing a fully independent foreign policy. On the same day a
sitting of the Council of People’s Commissars also passed a decision
in favour of obtaining arms and food supplies from Britain and
France (see also present edition, Vol. 27, pp. 36–39).