V. I.

Lenin

450

To:   L. D. TROTSKY

Comrade Trotsky, In my opinion, Chicherin is right. [1] Has it been
verified that the Estonians are fighting? Is there not deception
here? Or is it not only White Estonians (officers) who have
joined Yudenich, people who constitute a minority, and an insignificant one, among the Estonians?

We must think it over ten times, measure the cloth ten times, for there is a mass of information pointing to a
desire for peace on the part of the Estonian peasantry .

Greetings, Lenin

22/X.

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Notes:
[1]
In a letter to Lenin dated October 22, 1919, Chicherin objected
to Trotsky’s proposal for starting a war against Estonia. He wrote
that Yudenich would have to be pursued on Estonian territory
only if he retreated there. Chicherin pointed out the need to do
everything to avoid invading Estonia.