To the Revolutionary Military Council

Copy to the Chairman of the Astrakhan Provincial Party Committee

Comrade Kolesnikova

You have been repeatedly demanded to depart here at once. Sverdlov sent you personally many

* The last phrase of the telegram and the signature are written in the hand of Ya. M. Sverdlov. Ed.

** In this edition it is erroneously indicated that the telegram was written by Ya. M. Sverdlov. Ed.

telegrams. If you do not depart at once, you will be expelled from the Party.

I transmit to the Astrakhan comrades that they must cease all friction and unite for military purposes.

Those who fail to carry out this order will be tried according to the laws of martial law.

Lenin

Written on 7 or 8 January 1919

Sent to Astrakhan

First printed in 1942 in Lenin Miscellany XXXIV

Printed from a typewritten copy