AMENDMENTS TO THE TELEGRAM TO THE NIZHNY NOVGOROD GUBISPODKOM
Nizhny, Gubispolkom, To Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, Sverdlov
December 26 [1918]
The Council of Defense requests that you direct the Nizhny Novgorod Gubernial and Uyezd Military Authorities to enforce labor service obligations and to organize work teams for emergency operations involving the unloading of [snow‑] cargo, grain, salt, and other supplies.
Chairman of the Council of Defense: Lenin.
1 The text of the telegram was drafted by L. A. Fotieva.
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DRAFT CERTIFICATE FOR THE PLACED-ON-DEPUTY OF THE SNK.
[December 1918]
[May]
Certificate.
The bearer, comrade, is authorized by the Council of People’s Commissars to operate in the front-line zone for the organization of food detachments and to serve as a political commissar attached to military commanders.
He is entrusted with transmitting telegrams from the bearer to Moscow, to the Sovnarkom and to the CEC.
All Soviet and military authorities are instructed to render every possible assistance to the bearer without delay.
SHORT NOTES AND TELEGRAMS
NOVEMBER 1, 1917 – DECEMBER 31, 1918
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NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUEVICH AND P. P. GORBUNOV.
To Bonch-Bruevich and Gorbunov
[18] November 5, 1917
Please provide the bearers with all available literature and my letter *.
Lenin.
A Small Collection of Works, Volume XXI

1 In the first months following the October Revolution, all those departing for the provinces were supplied with a set of literature that included: the latest issues of the newspapers “Pravda,” “Izvestia of the CEC,” “The Newspaper of the Provisional Workers’ and Peasants’ Government,” the Decree on Land, and Lenin’s letter “Reply to the Peasants’ Queries” (Collected Works, vol. XXII, pp. 52–53).
*3136
NOTE TO Y. M. SVERDLOV.
[January 13, 1918] December 31, 1917
Comrade Sverdlov! Please discuss with Ganedki regarding the delegation from the CEC to be sent abroad¹.
Lenin.
1 At the meeting of the SNK on December 20 (7), 1917, the question of dispatching a delegation abroad to establish contact with socialist parties was considered. The SNK regarded the sending of such a delegation as desirable in principle and referred the matter to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee for further deliberation.
The delegation was dispatched by the International Department of the CEC, as Y. M. Sverdlov reported in his address on January 24 (11), 1918, at the Third All‑Russian Congress of Soviets (see “The Third All‑Russian Congress of Workers’, Soldiers’, and Peasants’ Deputies.” Petrograd, 1918, p. 20).
2.1314
NOTE TO M. A. SPIRIDONOVA.
Comrade Spiridonova.
[January, no earlier than January 26 (13), 1918]¹
I simply cannot leave the session of the [Communist] Commission while it is engaged in revising the Land Law². Please apologize on my behalf and read the attached document³ at the Congress*.
Lenin.
1 It appears that this note was written at the very moment when the First All‑Russian Congress of Soviets was taking place, from January 23 (10) to January 31 (18), 1918, along with the Third All‑Russian Congress of Peasants’ Deputies, which opened on January 26 (13), 1918.
2 We are speaking here of the “Law on the Socialization of Land,” adopted primarily by the Third All‑Russian Congress of Soviets and submitted to the Presidium of the CEC for final revision. It was published in “The Newspaper of the Provisional Workers’ and Peasants’ Government” on February 19, 1918.
“Appendix not preserved; the precise nature of the document remains unknown.”
‘Handwritten draft “at the Congress.” R d.

23G*!N»
NOTE TO N. I. PODVOISKY.
[February 11] January 29, 1918
Comrade Podvoisky!
In my view, the bearer—Balonov—is entirely justified in his request to accord military honors to the father of his wife, who was killed on July 13, 1917, for his Bolshevik convictions.
Please telephone me; let me know your opinion, or better yet, convey it to me in person.
Lenin.
21I5P
NOTE TO V. M. ALTFATHER.
To T. Altfather.
April 25, 1918, Moscow.
The bearer is Comrade Shotman, an old party comrade whom I know exceedingly well and who deserves absolute trust.
Lenin.
This letter should serve as a pass for Comrade Sh to… 
Lenin.
25336–
NOTE TO A. P. SMIRNOV.
July 1918
Comrade Smirnov!
The bearers are interested in the question of election to the Soviets. I have told them that they always retain the right to recall their representatives from the Soviets.
Explain our experience to them and offer your guidance.
Lenin.
TELEGRAM TO G. E. ZINOVIEV.
Petrograd.
(“Urgent.
To Zinoviev.
[June 2, 1918; I do not recall having given permission for communications with Omsk*”
SHORT NOTES AND TELEGRAMS

2i6

I will check with Podbel’sky.
I advise against engaging in any direct or indirect dealings with the counter‑revolutionary elements in Omsk.
[453]
Lenin.
1 According to G. E. Zinoviev, Lenin had in mind the proposed negotiations between the Sovnarkom of the Petrograd Commune and the Omsk Menshevik‑Socialist Revolutionary government concerning the supply of grain to Petrograd.