V. I.

Lenin

606

To:   S. I. BOTIN

4/VI. 1920

Comrade Botin, You told Comrade Belenky that the experiments could
be made on Friday (i.e., today). [1] A special military–
political circumstance has arisen, which may mean our losing
many extra thousands of Red Army men within the next few
days. It is therefore my absolute duty to request insistently
that you hasten the experiment and carry it out today without fail, if there is the slightest possibility (all the manual
work, such as regulating the engine, you should assign to others , not occupying yourself with trifles).

Will you please answer me at once by the messenger, as fully and exactly as possible. I would not be hurrying
you if an immediate political-strategic decision of great
importance were not called for.

Answer in detail (1) Can you speed things up to the maximum extent?

(2) When will you carry out the first experiment and when (approximately) will you complete it?

Greetings, Lenin