V. I. Lenin

To The Bureau Of The Women's Congress

In Petrograd Gubernia [1]

Comrades, since I have no opportunity of attending your Congress I should like to send you in writing my greetings
and my best wishes for success.

We are now happily ending the Civil War. The Soviet Republic is
becoming stronger through its victories over the exploiters. The
Soviet Republic can and must, from now on, concentrate its forces
on a more important task, one that is nearer and dearer to us, to
all working people—on a bloodless war, a war for victory
over hunger, cold and economic chaos. In this bloodless war, women
workers and peasants have an especially big role to play.

May the Women's Congress in Petrograd Gubernia help found,
consolidate and organise an army of working women for this
bloodless war which should and will bring still greater victories
to Soviet power.

With communist greetings,

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

January 10, 1920

Endnotes

[1]
The First Congress of Women Workers and Peasants of Petrograd Gubernia was held January 15-16, 1920. It was attended by 403
delegates, of whom 157 were Communists and 246 non-party; among
them were 91 peasant women, 131 workers, 133 intellectuals, 15
dressmakers, 11 housewives and two militia women. Though the
non-party delegates constituted the majority, the Congress was
communist in spirit. The agenda was as follows: the present
situation, the Communist Party and its attitude to women workers
and peasants, the land question, the consumers' commune, social
education, etc. On the opening day a telegram of greetings from
Lenin was read out to which the Congress sent a reply. Yelena
Stasova greeted the Congress on behalf of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) and
the central department of women workers and peasants. She stressed
the importance of the coming “week for the front” and called upon women delegates to strain every effort to restore
normal life to the country. The Congress demonstrated the striving
of the women workers and peasants to take an active part in
building up the Soviet Republic.