V. I.

Lenin

255

TELEGRAM TO THE SAMARA GUBERNIA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE [1]

27. I. 1919

Gubernia Executive Committee
Samara

Send immediately to Moscow all the material against the Right Socialist-Revolutionary Alexander Mikhailovich
Smirnov, report the reasons for his arrest, verify his statement about wishing to work with Soviet power against
Kolchak, meanwhile give Smirnov most favourable treatment while under arrest.

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

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Notes:
[1]
Lenin’s telegram followed receipt by him of a report from
Schwartz, representative of the Council of Defence in Samara,
about the arrest of A. M. Smirnov, a Right Socialist-Revolutionary
and former mayor of the town under the White Czechs, who gave
himself up to the Soviet authorities and declared his intention of
working with “Soviet power” for the purpose of fighting against
Kolchak. Schwartz reported that Smirnov put forward no conditions for his work in the future and was backed by a group of
individuals from his camp who had decided to serve Soviet
power.

On the telegram from Samara, Lenin wrote the words: “For
handy reference. Wired 27/1.”