June 18, 1918

Baku, Shaumyan

Through Astrakhan and Kushka with further transmission by radio-telegraph

There has been no decree yet on the nationalization of the oil industry. We intend to decree the nationalization of the oil industry by the end of navigation. For now we are organizing a state monopoly on the sale of oil products*. Take all measures for the speediest export of oil products to the Volga. Report to the Chief Oil Committee daily on the situation in the oil industry.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars  
Lenin

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

*The decree on the nationalization of the oil industry was adopted by the Council of People's Commissars on June 20, 1918 (see "Izvestiya of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee", June 22, 1918).*