Cipher

To Stalin, copy to Trotsky

I have received your messages, Chicherin has telegraphed you in detail, the Commander-in-Chief1* has replied to my inquiry that he would send one rifle and three cavalry divisions to the Caucasus from the Crimea, including Kashirin's corps3, we must think very carefully whether it is worth fighting Georgia, to feed and risk a rupture with England, even a new war, answer me and I will submit it to the Politburo.

Lenin.

Fond 2, op. 1, d. 24472 - autograph.

1*S.S.Kamenev

1At a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on November 18, 1920, G.V.Chicherin's proposal to urgently request Stalin's opinion on Georgia was adopted (see: RCCHIDNI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 122, l. 2). On the basis of this decision, Lenin sent the published telegram. On the same day, at 15 h. 50 min. Stalin sent a reply to it: "Telegram from 18/XI received. I propose to postpone the resolution of the issue for a few days before arriving in Moscow. Today I'm going [to] Rostov. Stalin" (RCCHIDNI, f. 558, op. 1, d. 2001). On November 20, Lenin replied to Stalin by direct wire, advising him to speed up his arrival in Moscow "to solve the Caucasian question as a whole" (Lenin V.I. Complete Collected Works, vol. 52, p. 14). At a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on November 27, Stalin made a report "On Caucasian affairs"; it was decided: "a) Leave for the time being t. Bakaev in the Caucasus, b) Oblige t. Ordzhonikidze to stay in Baku, assuming the overall political leadership of the Azrevkom and the Council of Action, c) Instruct t. Stalin to conspire with t. Chichirin on additional measures to ensure a more correct foreign policy in the states bordering on the Caucasus, using for this purpose Mr. Ordzhonikidze. Orjonikidze, d) To instruct the Komprod, as the most important political and economic task, to supply Baku with food in 100% of the norm. To soften the food policy in Azerbaijan, namely, not to take bread at all from peasants in Azerbaijan outside Mugan, and to take it carefully in Mugan. Immediately oblige Frumkin to accurately report to the Central Committee and the Council of the Opposition twice a month on the fulfillment of these directives in practice strictly and rigorously. To adopt in relation to Georgia, Armenia, Turkey and Persia the most conciliatory policy possible, i.e., aimed most of all at avoiding war. Not to set as its task a campaign neither against Georgia, nor against Armenia, nor against Persia. The main task is to recognize the protection of Azrebaijan and firm possession of the entire Caspian Sea. For this purpose to strengthen and accelerate the transfer of no less than 7 divisions to Azerbaijan. To intensify propaganda, agitation, development of kombeds and sovstroitelstvo-building in Azerbaijan in general. Stalin through the Orgburo to get the maximum number of Muslims from everywhere to work in Azerbaijan. To charge the NKPS and the All-Union Railway to find ways to transport at least 8 echelons of troops daily to Baku without weakening the food supply to Russia. To entrust Trotsky with the closest supervision over the implementation and acceleration of the decree" (RCCHIDNI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 125, l. 1).

2Stalin replied to G.V.Chicherin's telegram on November 19, 1920 from Vladikavkaz: "No new information from Mdivani (RSFSR ambassador to Turkey - Ed.), I will inform you upon receipt. We hope to establish permanent communication between Turkey and Armenia, on the one hand, and Moscow through Baku, Rostov, on the other hand, [in] the coming days. The blame for the detachment from Turkey falls entirely on Eliava's mission, which showed inadmissible inactivity. I suspended the issue of arms to the Turks until the position of the latter is clarified. On the necessity of occupation of Georgia and the costs of the latter in person in a few days. Stalin" (RCCHIDNI, f. 558, op. 1, d. 2002 - autograph).

3V.I.Lenin is referring to the 3rd Cavalry Corps, formed in October 1920, the commander of which was appointed N.D.Kashirin. In the second half of November 1920 the corps guarded the Crimean coast near Yevpatoria, then from December 1920 to August 1921 it fought against Makhno's gangs. On June 6, 1922 the corps was disbanded.