To Tsyurupa.
[August 29, 1918]
I do not advise adopting this approach at present—since it represents a middle ground, neither the outright ultimatum of the complete resignation of all officials nor the vacillation of everyone in the face of a single, decisive decision.
— It is better to throw all our strength into Elets–Petrovsk–the other top districts and, after just a few days, once we have received even the most meager report—say, that so many hundreds of railcars are on their way—to raise the stakes and pose the question with greater firmness.