## NOTE TO G. V. CHICHERIN ON A DRAFT TELEGRAM TO THE COMMANDER OF THE NAVAL FORCES OF THE BLACK SEA FLEET
May 16, 1918

To the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Black Sea Fleet, Sablin:

According to reports from Sukhum, the troops of the Transcaucasian government, located twenty versts from Sukhum and supported by a flotilla of armed merchant vessels, are advancing on Sukhum, threatening the entire Black Sea coast. We order you to immediately arm a number of our merchant vessels and, under the guise of protecting our commercial cargo, move southward for the defense of Sukhum.

**To Chicherin:**

In my view, the Brest Treaty cannot forbid us to struggle against mutineers and pirates (armed merchant vessels), and we must find a form to provide armed resistance with our naval forces against the mutineers.

Lenin

¹ G. V. Chicherin — People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs.

## RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON THE DISPATCH OF GRAIN FROM TSARITSYN TO BAKU
MAY 22, 1918

**Resolution**

Dispatch immediately by water from Tsaritsyn to Baku ten thousand (10,000) poods of grain at the disposal of the Baku Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, on the condition that first and foremost the matter of exporting oil in the greatest quantity is unconditionally secured.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Manager of the Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars

Vlad. Bonch-Bruevich

Secretary of the Council N. Gorbunov

Printed from the original, signed by V. I. Lenin