TELEGRAM TO ALL PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMITTEES
24271
January 1, 1919

Contrary to the categorical directive of the Council of People's Commissars decree of December 10 concerning purchases of non-rationed foodstuffs by workers' organizations, local food organs are placing every conceivable obstruction to such purchases, and also to their transport. Notify all local organs and all your agents that those guilty of sabotage in the implementation of the said Council of People's Commissars decree will be immediately handed over to the revolutionary tribunal. Confirm receipt of this telegram and its execution.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
Lenin

*Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.*

24279
RESOLUTION 
ON A REPORT FROM DVINSK*
January 2, 1919

Much material from this must be taken for publication (to Stalin or Chicherin: entrust someone with reworking it).

*In a report addressed to Lenin and Stalin, information was provided on the situation in the regions of the Baltic territories and Byelorussia liberated from German occupation: "The Germans blew up the bridge across the Vilia between stations Bezdan and Podorodze, the latter in our hands. Our patrols are at Bezdan; this is in the direction of Vilna. In the Kovno direction between stations Rakishki and Ponevezh all stations have been burned by the Germans; bridge demolition has henceforth become systematic, incidentally in the direction of Molodechno-Vilna; a substantial bridge was blown up near station Soly. At Rakishki station the Germans shot the chairman of the Revolutionary Committee and the secretary of the militia. In Shavli and Radvilishki the Germans carried out shootings of workers-strikers who were dismantling tracks in order to prevent the removal of state property. In Kovno a large rally took place contrary to German permission; for refusing to disperse the assembly they opened fire: 8 wounded, 1 killed; they forbade the arrangement of funerals... Bribery among German soldiers and officers is universal; they are selling off all their property and ours."*

24869
TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC
Voronezh and at your location
January 3, 1919

I am very concerned lest you have become absorbed with Ukraine to the detriment of the general strategic task which the Commander-in-Chief insists upon and which consists in a swift, decisive and general offensive against Krasnov. I fear greatly that we are falling behind on this and that the latest successes of Krasnov's forces near Tsaritsyn will again lead to a postponement of our offensive and the loss of the moment. The initiative for serious action is slipping from our hands both beneath Astrakhan and on the Caspian Sea, and beneath Tsaritsyn, and in the east. The Commander-in-Chief stands for a swift general offensive against Krasnov, but the Commander-in-Chief apparently lacks the power to overcome the dilatoriness and separatism of the Ukrainians and other regionalists. Should you not bend all your efforts to accelerating and completing the general offensive against Krasnov?

Lenin

24869
TELEGRAM
TO THE SIMBIRSK PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMISSAR
January 6, 1919

The Committee of 42 organizations of starving workers of Petrograd and Moscow complains of your lack of initiative. I demand maximum energy on your part, a business-like attitude toward the matter, and comprehensive aid to the starving workers.