NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN V. I. LENIN AND A. E. MINKIN

June, the second is the testimony of E. Bosh, who writes that a few
days after Lenin's letter, 50 communists, workers, arrived from Petrograd,
and 35 party workers from Moscow and others. ("Proletarian Revolution"
No. 3 (26), for 1924, p. 169).
Lenin received E. Bosh's letter, approximately on August 14, and these notes,
most likely, were written on August 17.
2355T
TELEGRAM TO A. E. MINKIN ABOUT THE EXPEDITION.
August 16, 1918
Penza. Gubernia Executive Committee to Minkin.
Immediately put the expedition into action.
Lenin.
2356*
NEGOTIATIONS VIA DIRECT LINE BETWEEN
V. I. LENIN AND A. E. MINKIN
AUGUST 10, 1918
I.
NOTE TO MINKIN.
To Minkin.
I have just read your report, I repeat the order for the Latvians who arrived with the expedition to remain for the time being, pending
further instructions, in Penza.
Select the most reliable from your eight hundred soldiers and act
ruthlessly first against one volost, bringing the matter
to a conclusion. Send an accurate report about Chechbary. So far
you have had not only a lack of forces, but also a lack of energy,
because you could still suppress the uprising of five volosts.
Therefore, you could have brought it to a conclusion in at least one volost. If
necessary, we will send more forces, telegraph in more detail and
more precisely, where you have how many occupied, where, where, what kind of help is needed*
Lenin.

II.
23562
NOTE FROM MINKIN.
Please pass the following to Ilyich: "By telegram dated 19/VIII, the People's Commissar of Finance of the Northern Region, Comrade Potyaev, ordered
the head of the Pety expedition to delay the unloading of the train.
Work has been suspended. Please inform me whether his order, which cancels Your order of the 16th under "No. 683.1, is subject to execution.
I await a response.
A. Minkin.

It must be referring to Lenin's telegram of August 16, but there is no outgoing number on the original (see p. 207).
III.
23562
LENIN'S REPLY.
To Minkin.
It is foolish to ask whether the People's Commissar of Finance, moreover of one
region, can cancel my order. If this order is not carried out, I will bring the guilty to trial. Leave the company of Latvians
in Penza for the time being until the suppression of Chembar. Convey to all
members of the Executive Committee and all communists that it is their duty to ruthlessly
suppress the kulaks and confiscate all the grain of the rebels. I am
outraged by your inaction and weakness. I demand detailed
reports on the execution of all my orders and on measures to
suppress and confiscate in particular.
Lenin.
TELEGRAMS REGARDING FRICTION
IN THE PENZA GUBERNIA COMMITTEE
I.
23574
Penza. Gubernia Committee to Turlo, copy to Minkin.
August 22, 1918, Moscow, 0 hrs. 35 min.
I do not understand how Minkin could refuse to execute the decrees
of the majority of the Gubernia Committee. I hope this is just

TELEGRAM. TO THE PENZA GUBERNIA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
^ 0 9 a misunderstanding. I insist that in a critical time of war
everyone works together, with the greatest resolve, submitting
to the majority, and that conflicts are referred to the Central Committee, without stopping
work. [723]
Lenin.
II.
23592
Penza. Gubernia Executive Committee.
Copy to the gubernia organization of communists.1
August 28, 1918. Moscow, [15 hrs. 05 min.].2
Internal conflicts among communists are extremely regrettable.
It would be a disgrace if they were not settled [urgently]. Immediately elect
a commission to settle them in two days, for example, by
dividing the uyezds between the most prominent workers, in order to separate
those who are quarreling. Telegraph the commission's decision. [731/741]
1 The present telegram was rewritten by someone on another
telegraph form, indicating the address "Penza Communists". The telegrams
were submitted simultaneously.
2 The date was written by Lenin, the time of submission is indicated on the form
to which Lenin's telegram is affixed.
III.
TELEGRAM TO THE PENZA GUBERNIA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
August 29, 1918
Penza. To the Gubernia Executive Committee.
Copy to the Gubernia Committee of Communists.
I am extremely indignant that there is absolutely nothing definite from
you, about what, finally, serious measures of ruthless suppression and confiscation of grain from the kulaks of the five volosts have been
carried out by you. Your inaction is criminal. All forces must be
directed to one volost and all surplus grain must be cleared in it.
Telegraph the execution. [702]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.