V. I.

Lenin

348

TELEGRAM TO J. V. STALIN [2]

Zinoviev for Stalin
Smolny
Petrograd

Okulov points to the isolation of the 7th Army from the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front,
which causes confusion, relieves front workers of responsibility, and deprives them of energy in their work.
Petrograd Military District, subordinated to the Western Front,
is giving all its reserves to the 7th Army, not giving them
to the front for the remaining armies. Pozern stays in
Petrograd all the time, has poor connections with the
Council of the front, and sets up parallel supply bodies
instead of utilising the front-line bodies already existing.
Okulov proposes either the complete subordination of the
7th Army to the command of the front, or giving it a special
status of direct subordination to the General Headquarters.

Knowing Petrograd’s constant tendency towards independent activity, I think you should help the
Revolutionary Military Council of the front to unite all the armies.
The other Western armies besides the 7th should be taken
care of, too. Report what you have done.

The conflict with Okulov must not be allowed to grow.
Think it over well, for it is impossible simply to recall
him.

Today I learned of the desertion to the enemy of yet another Petrograd regiment and of the refusal of two
regiments to attack. Supervision should be strengthened and
more workers added.

Regarding foreigners , I advise not to hurry with deportation. Would not a concentration camp be better, so that
they can afterwards be exchanged? [1]

Lenin