V. I.

Lenin

186

TELEGRAM TO G. Y. SOKOLNIKOV

In code

Sokolnikov

I am extremely worried by the slowing down of operations against the Donets coalfields and Rostov. There must
be a speed-up but, of course, only with substantial forces.
Work out practical directives for this purpose, and we shall
get them adopted by the Central Committee for the
Ukrainians, and equally for our own people. It is a crying
scandal that the suppression of the Cossack rising is dragging
on. [1] Reply in as much detail as you can.

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
Lenin refers to the whiteguard Cossack rising on the Don, in the
Veshenskaya area, in the rear of the Southern Front. In a number
of directives to the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic
and the Command of the Southern Front Lenin drew attention to
the danger of the rebels’ linking up with Denikin’s advancing
troops, and the need to crush the rebellion with all speed (see
this volume, pp. 378, 384, 387 and 388).