V. I.

Lenin

350

TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT

Revolutionary Military Council
Southern Front

The Revolutionary Committee of Kotelnikovo District, Don Region, by Order No. 27, abolishes the term “stanitsa”
and establishes that of “volost”, and accordingly divides
Kotelnikovo District into volosts.

In various districts of the region the local authorities
forbid the wearing of trouser stripes and abolish the word
“Cossack”.

In the 9th Army Comrade Rogachov is indiscriminately requisitioning horse harness and carts from the working
Cossacks.

In many parts of the region local fairs for selling peasant
wares are prohibited. Austrian prisoners of war are being
appointed commissars in the stanitsas.

We call attention to the need to be particularly careful
in breaking up such trivial features of everyday life, which
are of no significance whatsoever in the general policy,
so as not to irritate the population. Pursue a firm course
on basic questions and be tolerant of the archaic survivals
to which the population is accustomed.

Reply by telegram. [1]

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars