V. I.

Lenin

545

TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY [2]

In code [1]

Trotsky

If grain and timber procurement has risen, special efforts
must be devoted to barges and preparations for floating,
especially barges for oil, then to building houses for the
Chelyabinsk and other coal workers. Cannot the Siberian
prisoners of war and officers be moved to the Urals and
set to work on coal and timber?

To expedite replies from the centre, obtain direct lines
through the military department.

Krestinsky has replied to you. I repeat in brief. The
Ishim remains in Tyumen Gubernia. You can keep
Brunovsky. About meat, an order to organise salting centres has
been given.

Regarding regional centres, it is necessary to tread warily and think it over carefully, so as to avoid regionalism.

If troop formation in Siberia has been overdone you should check yourself what real measures are being taken
to combat this, summoning to the direct line anyone you
require.

Smirnov must be taken off diplomatic, frontier and military affairs and returned to peace-time work.

Lenin

---
Notes:
[1]
Transmitted by direct line.— Ed .

[2]
Written in reply to Trotsky’s telegram from Ekaterinburg dated
March 5, 1920, in which he reported a considerable increase in
food procurements in districts of the Urals and Siberia, complained
that the central departments did not even reply to inquiries from
the Siberian and Urals organisations, and asserted that only the
establishment of regional centres with wide powers could put the
work on a proper footing. On the text of the telegram Lenin wrote
his remarks about the decision on Ishim Uyezd and the request
that Brunovsky be kept for food work, and also about meat
procurement in Siberia: = “1) Remains in Tyumen Gubernia.

“2) No objection to Brunovsky (for the Food Commissariat).

“3) The Food Commissariat has issued an order to organise