1) It is not enough to send a diplomatic] protest.

2) It is even better to postpone it in order to try to catch Latvia and Estonia better.

3) To take extreme measures to catch them red-handed (i.e. to collect more and more evidence).

4) To take military measures, i.e. to try to punish Latvia and Estonia militarily (e.g., "on the shoulders" of Balahovich to cross the border even 1 verst somewhere and hang 100 - 1000 of their officials and rich people there)1.

Published - The Trotsky papers. 1917-1922. V. II, p. 272.

Fund 2, op. 2, d. 447 - autograph.

1In the territories of the Baltic States, contrary to the treaties concluded with Soviet Russia in 1920, the activities of all kinds of bureaus engaged in recruitment for the Wrangel armies and armed formations of Bei-Bulak-Balakhovich were permitted. The latter, violating the state border, invaded the border regions of Russia with the purpose of plundering and terrorizing the civilian population. The statements of the Soviet government through diplomatic channels did not always achieve their purpose. On October 28, 1920, a note signed by L.B.Krasin was sent to the British government, which stated: "The war with the existing governments (Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - Ed.) has been terminated, but the state of war continues to exist.... Armed gangs, not subject to any government, continue to carry on hostile actions against the citizens of both Soviet Republics (RSFSR and Ukraine - Ed.). These armed forces, under the command of Balakhovich and Petliura, are supplied with equipment and arms by the Entente powers..., therefore these powers are chiefly responsible for the continued suffering and bloodshed caused by their actions.... The Governments of the Russian and Ukrainian Republics will take all necessary measures to liberate their countries from these disturbers of the peace and to put an end to their illegal actions.... Only by destroying, disbanding or surrendering the armed forces of these marauders will it be possible to restore peace" (Documents of Foreign Policy of the USSR. Vol. III. M., 1959, pp. 300-301).

In November 1920, north-west of Mozyr, Balakhovich's gangs were defeated by units of the Red Army, and the remnants crossed into Poland, where they were disarmed on November 26 in the presence of a representative of Soviet Russia (see: Pravda, 1996, March 27).