V. I.

Lenin

281

TELEGRAM TO V. N. KAYUROV [1]

Secret
27. III. 1919

Kayurov
5th Army

Your unaccountably optimistic telegram received; I very
much fear that such optimism, which has already done much harm in the east, will do more harm now. Report
whether you gave your opinion to Trotsky and what measures you have taken to improve political work, put heart
into the reinforcements and inspire them with political
consciousness.

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

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Notes:
[1]
This was a reply to a telegram from V. N. Kayurov, head of the
Political Department of the 5th Army, who reported the capture
of Ufa by whiteguard troops and the grave plight of the 5th

Army. At the same time, Kayurov expressed confidence that if “
class-conscious, trained reinforcements” were sent, “the enemy will be
routed”.