CONVERSATION WITH V. V. KUIBYSHEV

BY DIRECT WIRE

At the apparatus: Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Kuibyshev, from Samara.

Comrade Lenin, in Orenburg the Dutov movement has raised its head again; a report has been received that Cossack detachments are advancing 20 versts from Orenburg. Iletsk is surrounded by Cossacks, the Cossacks are mobilizing all stanitsas, committing terrible atrocities, three members of the executive committee have been killed, chairman of the Cossack section of the council Zakharov. The Orenburg bourgeoisie is taking an active part. Orenburg asks the Council of People's Commissars to help destroy the Dutov adventure at its roots, otherwise a blockade will form again, which will starve 12,000,000 inhabitants of the Turkestan region. One detachment sent from Orenburg to Iletsk has been surrounded and completely destroyed; it is believed that government commissar Tsvilling has perished. Samara will strain all its forces to help Orenburg, but local forces are insufficient for the final liquidation of the Dutov movement, assistance from the center is necessary. I have finished, awaiting your answer.

I will immediately take all measures to notify the military department and render you assistance.

Lenin

Written in April, no earlier than 2 and no later than 4, 1918