TO A. A. IOFFE

Source: PSS vol. 50

June 2, 1918.

Comrade Ioffe! Sokolnikov and Bukharin are coming to see you, and it seems Larin as well.106 I am taking the opportunity to warn you about a few things. I am sitting in on a meeting of those departing (without Larin). I hear speeches against the notion that "Ioffe is transferring the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs to Berlin."

The frictions between you and Chicherin are sometimes exploited—more unconsciously than consciously—with the aim or in the direction of exacerbating these frictions.

I am confident that you will be on guard and will not allow these frictions to be exacerbated. I have followed your

* At the top of the document V. I. Lenin wrote: "If it is not possible to transmit at once by telephone to Petrograd, then by direct wire." — Ed.

letters carefully and am firmly convinced that these frictions are unimportant (chaos everywhere, carelessness everywhere—in all commissariats, and the cure for this evil is slow). Patience and persistence, and the frictions will be smoothed out. Chicherin is an excellent worker, your line is conducting the Brest Treaty with complete loyalty, you already have success in my view—and from this it follows that we will easily smooth out the frictions.

If the German merchants take economic advantages, understanding that they can take nothing from us by war, we will burn everything—then your policy will continue to have success. We will be able to supply the Germans with raw materials. In case of importance—send me copies of your exact demands. Arrange the direct wire as soon as possible.

Bukharin is loyal, but has gotten carried away with "leftish foolishness" to the devil. Sokolnikov has come unhinged again. Larin is a wavering intellectual, a chatterer of the first order. Therefore be on your guard—arch-guard—with all these delightful and splendid delegates. Sokolnikov is a most valuable worker, but sometimes (and precisely now) he gets "taken over" and he "breaks dishes" out of his paradoxes. If you do not take precautions, he will break plenty of dishes there with you. And Bukharin—three times over. Prenez garde!*

I hope that Krasin and Ganetsky, as practical men, will help you and the whole matter will be set right.

I thank you for the "enclosure" to your letter. I await more. Best greetings.

Yours, Lenin

P.S.

NB: Among Russian Bolsheviks taken prisoner by Germany (Zivilgefangene**), there was Popov from Brussels, taken in Belgium. Could you not find him and take him into service?107

P.P.S. By courier—but not by post—try to send the enclosed to Switzerland.108

* — Be careful. — Ed.

** — civilian prisoners, i.e., civilian persons taken prisoner. — Ed.

TELEGRAM TO V. L. PANYUSHKIN. JUNE 3, 1918

Sent to Berlin

First published in 1959 in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript