V. I. Lenin

It is essential to move the maximum number of workers from
Petrograd:

(1) some dozens of “leaders” (a la Kayurov)

(2) thousands of “rank and file”.

Otherwise we shall fall, for the situation with the
Czechoslovaks is as bad as could be.

In such a situation it is silly to “sit tight” on the “wellbeing” of Petrograd and to
“grudge” giving from there: let the Bolshevik majority in the Petrograd Soviet of Deputies even fall from 98
per cent (have you 98 per cent?) to 51 per cent! What does it
matter!

We shall not perish even (even!) if in Petrograd the number of
those not ours in the Soviet of Deputies goes up to 49 per cent
(if ever this does happen). But we shall certainly perish owing
to the Czechoslovaks unless we make desperate efforts to add
hundreds and thousands of leading workers in order to convert
the jelly into something solid. This is not an exaggeration but
an accurate appraisal. You will be responsible for our perishing
if you are miserly and keep back “for Petrograd”.

Greetings! Yours, Lenin

P.S. Reply!

July 20, 1918