1919

TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY SOVIET OF THE REPUBLIC
October 22, 1919
I was somewhat "confused" by the Chairman of the Petrosoviet's demand for new regiments yesterday. Is it true about the Estonians?
I nevertheless passed it on to Sklyansky, and an order has been given for dispatch from Tula (again from Tula!).
But taking further from the Southern Front reserve is not safe. Wouldn't it be better to look in other places?
To finish off Yudenich (specifically finish off—finish him off) is devilishly important for us. If the offensive has begun, couldn't another 20,000 Petersburg workers be mobilized and achieve a real mass onslaught on Yudenich?
If there are 5-10 thousand good attacking troops (and you have them), then surely a city like Petersburg can give 30,000 after them, to support them. Chusosnabarm says that a lot of property was "found" in Petersburg, there is bread, meat is coming.
We need to finish with Yudenich soon; then we will turn everything against Denikin.
Taking from the Southern Front now, in my opinion, is dangerous: an offensive has begun there, it needs to be expanded.
Lenin
P. S. I just learned from Sklyansky that 2 regiments, assigned to Petersburg, have approached Kotlas. Let's speed up their movement.
New message: this is incorrect.

NOTE TO THE PRESIDING CHAIRMAN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY SOVIET OF THE REPUBLIC
October 22, 1919
In my opinion, Chicherin is right*. Has it been verified that the Estonians
are fighting? Isn't there some deception here? Or aren't the Estonians going with Yudenich
* In a report to Lenin, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs objected to
Trotsky's proposal to start a war against Estonia. "Yudenich will have to be pursued
on Estonian territory," the report stated, "only

White only (officers), who constitute a minority and an insignificant one among the Estonians?
It is necessary to think ten times, to try ten times, because a mass
of data indicates the desire for peace by the Estonian peasantry.
Lenin

RESOLUTION ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF *
October 22, 1919
To all members of the Politburo for signature.
In my opinion, the petition should be granted and it should be decided: either summon the Commander-in-Chief personally, or give him draft directives for urgent conclusion and notify the Commander-in-Chief of this in writing.
Lenin
To all members of the Politburo for review and signature**.

in the event that he retreats there. But according to Finnish newspapers, the Estonians
have now driven Yudenich out of Narva and forbade his troops to move
through Estonian territory. This needs to be secured...
Everything must be done to avoid invading Estonia. This would drastically
change the mood in all the small states with which we are conducting or are going to conduct negotiations, and would disrupt these agreements,
as the idea of our allegedly "imperialism" would be resurrected everywhere.
Peace negotiations played a huge role, convincing the Estonian peasantry
and petty bourgeoisie that we do not want to conquer them... We must not give cause
to the Estonian military party to rekindle the patriotic military fervor of the peasantry and petty bourgeoisie against us.
Russian White Guard newspapers write: "If the Estonian troops
had taken part in the campaign against Petrograd, it would have succeeded; but they are not participating,
therefore the campaign is hopeless." This is what we have achieved by the mood of the Estonian masses caused by peace negotiations...
In essence, about the ongoing operations, it was necessary to appeal
to the Estonian masses with leaflets from airplanes, but without threats. The Estonian
military party would be happy if we gave it a reason to again inflate
the patriotic military fervor of the peasantry and petty bourgeoisie against us.
We must not climb into this trap."
* In his report, the Commander-in-Chief requested that draft
operational directives of the government be given to the High Command
for preliminary conclusion.
** The report has the note: "I agree with the Commander-in-Chief's request. M. Kalinin."