Member of the Collegium of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, Maxim Maksimovich Litvinov, hereby authorizes—
the Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic to conduct preliminary negotiations with representatives of the Governments of England, America,
Belgium, Italy, France, and Japan, on the one hand, concerning the possible terms of peace between Russia and the aforementioned powers, and on the other. The Government of the RSFSR requests that all statements made by Member of the Collegium M. M. Litvinov be regarded as statements issued in the name of the Government of the RSFSR.
Member of the Collegium of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, M. M. Litvinov, is authorized to negotiate and sign
an agreement specifying the timing, location, and preliminary conditions for Russia’s entry into peace negotiations with the Governments of England,
America, Belgium, Italy, France, and Japan.
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)