August 23, 1918

We know little about the Caucasus and Baku. Reports are unverified. In the North Caucasus, Soviet power exists. Its forces are cut off from Tsaritsyn, which is besieged from the south by Cossacks. The English have landed in Baku, and the situation there is unstable. The Germans are willing to guarantee non-aggression toward Baku if we drive the English out. It is unknown how matters will develop there. Regarding military assistance, we do not know where it is. We think it is held up near Tsaritsyn.

With regard to ambassadors and consuls, we advise taking a wait-and-see approach, placing them under triple surveillance and arresting suspicious persons communicating with them.

We are considering and preparing some assistance for you, but we cannot promise for certain, because everything depends on whether we succeed in driving the English out of Baku or they succeed in seizing part of the Caspian coast.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin