Petrograd

Smolny

To Zinoviev for Stalin

Okulov points to the detachment of the 7th Army from the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front, which introduces confusion and removes responsibility from the workers of the front, depriving them of energy in their work. The Petrograd District, subordinated to the Western Front, gives all its supplies to the 7th Army, not providing them to the front and for the other armies. Pozern sits all the time in Piter, has a weak connection with the Soviet of the front, creates parallel supply bodies instead of using the already existing front-

* Text: "Embassies... regiment?" V. I. Lenin underlined and wrote in the margins: "Cipher." Ed.

line supply bodies. Okulov proposes either the complete subordination of the 7th Army to the front command, or its allocation to a special status with direct subordination to
the Headquarters.

Knowing the constant inclination of Piter to self-reliance, I think that you should help the Revolutionary Military Council of the front to unite all the armies. It is necessary to take care of other western armies, not only the 7th. Report what you will do.

It is necessary that the conflict with Okulov does not escalate. Think carefully, for it is simply
impossible to recall him.

Today I learned about the transfer of another Piter regiment to the enemy and the refusal of two regiments to advance. It is necessary to strengthen supervision and the infusion of workers.

Regarding foreigners, I advise against rushing with expulsion. Wouldn't it be better to put them in a concentration camp, so that they can then be exchanged*.

Lenin

in the hand of E. M. Sklyansky, supplemented and signed by V. I. Lenin

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Written on June 3, 1919

First published in 1942 in Lenin Miscellany XXXIV

Printed from the text written