ПЕРЕПИСКА С Г.В.ЧИЧЕРИНЫМ
Date: 1921-06-10
Source: ru:ND (Neizvestnye Dokumenty - Unknown Documents)
Translated by: AI (Claude)

Letter from G.V. Chicherin

June 9, 1921

To Comrade Lenin

Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich, In relation to the Latvian communists the situation is profoundly abnormal. I have several times drawn the attention of the Central Committee to the actions and tactics of the Latvian communists, which could cause the most serious harm both, in particular, to our relations with Latvia and to our international position in general. Nothing has been undertaken to stop the Latvian communists or to keep them within certain limits. And after terrorist acts, armed attacks and resistance, when the Latvian Section openly speaks of impending partisan actions and weapons are transported to them from Russia, when repressions begin from the side of the bourgeois government, we have to deal with the consequences of all this. If we are dealing with it, we must have the possibility to influence. Meanwhile the Latvian communists in fact have the possibility to endanger our international relations as they please. Either economic restoration or adventures; if the first is necessary and not the second, then we must have the possibility to actually arrange things so that the second does not happen. Is it really necessary to spoil international relations so necessary to us, because a local party that does not listen to us in anything acts as it pleases and then forces us to intervene in the consequences of its actions. Latvian ministers go, and even now go, for the exchange of Latvian communists sentenced to death for Latvian bourgeois sentenced to death with us. One can foresee the moment when they will cease to go for this, for in essence such an exchange is completely abnormal. On one side Latvian citizens and on the other side Latvian citizens. If we execute Russian White Guards, would we really allow the interference of Latvia or anyone else. We even in 1918 did not allow in such cases the interference of Mirbach, and he in such cases always stipulated that he asks (for example, for Shcheglovitov) as a personal acquaintance, in a private capacity, and not as a German representative. If however our position is such that we cannot wash our hands during repressions against communists of Latvia, then in such a case it is necessary from the side of the CC RCP actual control over the actions and tactics of the Latvian communists.

With communist greetings

Georgy Chicherin.


Note from V.I. Lenin

Secret

To Comrade Chicherin

Com. Chicherin!

Try to work out a draft directive from the Central Committee. The matter is not easy. You are right in essence. But it is necessary very skillfully to compose a draft directive.¹

With communist greetings

Lenin.

June 10, 1921

Fund 2, inventory 2, file 657 — letter from G.V. Chicherin — original, note from V.I. Lenin — autograph.

¹ At the proposal of V.I. Lenin, G.V. Chicherin composed a draft directive on June 11, 1921 and sent it to the CC RCP(B) to V.M. Molotov, who forwarded it to V.I. Lenin. After correction made by Lenin, for discussion by members of the CC the following text of the draft directive was submitted: "The attitude of the bourgeois governments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania to the Russian Soviet government has become gradually much more correct and friendly than last year. Correct relations with these governments must be maintained by Soviet Russia for the sake of the economic tasks facing it and for the sake of the general strengthening of its international position. The main obstacle standing in the way of this policy lies in the panic fear before the growth of communism, which possesses the ruling circles of the Baltic republics. In all these republics in recent times persecutions of communists have extraordinarily intensified partly under the influence of the fall of bourgeois Georgia, in which the Baltic governments see for themselves a warning. The ruling circles of these republics only therefore continue to seek support against Soviet Russia in its enemies, because they are permeated with the conviction that with the help of their communist parties the Russian government is preparing for them the fate of Georgia. Meanwhile, at the present moment of development of international relations it is necessary to avoid in the Baltic republics everything that could shake the strengthening international position of Soviet Russia, which is a necessary condition of its economic revival.

The CC RCP asks comrades of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to show the greatest caution in the sense that there can be no question of military assistance from the RSFSR to communists of these countries" (the last paragraph was written by Lenin) (RTsKhIDNI, fund 2, inventory 1, file 24576).

The draft directive was discussed at the meeting of the Politburo of the CC RCP(B) on June 21 and was adopted in the following form: "The CC draws the attention of comrade communists of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the fact that they need to coordinate their policy with the peculiarities of the international position of the RSFSR in present conditions. These peculiarities are characterized by the conclusion of Polish peace and a trade agreement with England. Any actions calculated to involve Russia in military struggle with one of these states or which could have as their consequence such involvement, can entail an aggravation in its international position. Although the directive of the leading organ of the Latvian party contains corresponding instructions, but in view of the exceptional importance and acuteness of the question, the CC considers it necessary on its part to pose this question with complete definiteness. Therefore the CC asks communists of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to show the greatest circumspection both in foreign and in domestic policy, taking into account the instruction of the CC RCP that at the present moment there can be no question of military assistance to them from the side of the RSFSR" (RTsKhIDNI, fund 17, inventory 3, file 178, sheet 4).

See also correspondence of G.V. Chicherin with V.I. Lenin of June 10, 1921 (doc. 307).