Letter of G.V.Chicherin

July 21, 1921.

To Comrade Molotov

Dear Comrade, On July 16, in response to Comrade Lenin's inquiry concerning the question raised by Comrade Rothstein about the actions of the Baku people, and Comrade Lenin wrote: "Give me a ready draft of the Central Committee resolution, we will conduct it by telephone "1, I proposed in a letter to Comrade Lenin that the Politburo should instruct Comrade Ordzhonikidze and all Party organizations and Soviet institutions in the Caucasus to strictly see to it that the Russian-Persian treaty and the directives of the Central Committee in the Caucasus should be implemented. Ordzhonikidze and all party organizations and Soviet institutions in the Caucasus to strictly see to it that the Russo-Persian treaty and the directives of the Central Committee and the NKID on Persian policy are in no way violated by any Soviet institutions and officials and party organizations2.

I have just received from Politupra a telegram from Tashkent that a representative of a special Persian brigade has arrived there from Baku to recruit Persian Communists to join the brigade with a special assignment. This undoubtedly indicates that the Baku comrades are acting in direct contradiction to the decisions of the Central Committee and our entire policy. While we have concluded a treaty with Persia and are observing friendly relations with it, Persian Communists are being recruited for some kind of adventure. I earnestly request the Central Committee to order that these adventures be put an end to. To my previous proposal I therefore add another one. I propose additionally that the Central Committee should instruct Tov. Ordzhonikidze and all party organizations and Soviet institutions not to allow recruitment for armed invasions of Persia or military action on Persian territory...3

With communist greetings Chicherin.

Note by V.I.Lenin

Т. Molotov!

It is necessary to let such things go quickly. On the phone: in favor of Chich[erin's] proposal or not? 4

I'm in favor of Chich[erin's] proposal.23/VII.                            Lenin.

Published - "Izvestiya TsK CPSU", 1990, No. 4, p. 180.

Fund 2, op. 1, d. 27064 - Lenin's note - autograph, letter GV Chicherin - original.

1Cf. Lenin V.I. Complete Collected Works, vol. 53, с. 36.

July 216, 1921 GV Chicherin wrote to Lenin: "On the issue raised by Comrade Rothstein about the actions of the Baku residents, whom he proposes to subordinate to him..... It seems to us inconvenient and unnecessary to subordinate Baku citizens to Rothstein: communications are difficult not between Moscow and Baku, but between Baku and Teheran, and if the cipher got to Baku, it can and must get to Moscow. Rothstein can always turn to the center, and the center will send instructions to the Baku people.

Baku does not reject our Persian policy in principle. But there is a danger [that] they will violate it. Comrade Ordzhonikidze is disciplined, if there is a decree of the Central Committee. It seems to me therefore highly desirable that the Politburo should instruct Comrade Ordzhonikidze and all party organizations and Soviet institutions in the Caucasus to strictly see to it that the Russian-Persian treaty and the directives of the Central Committee and the NKID on Persian policy are in no way violated by any Soviet institutions and officials and party organizations."

3In G.V.Chicherin's letter the words: "To my former proposal .... territories" are circled in pencil and against them in the margin there are notes about the vote of the members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b): "Today to poll the PB: Lenin - in favor. Molotov - in favor. Kamenev - in favor. Zinoviev +."

4Based on the result of the vote of the Politburo members by telephone poll in the minutes of the meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on July 25, 1921 recorded: Listened: "On the confirmation of the directive of the Central Committee on the issue of the Russo-Persian Treaty". Resolved: "To accept the proposal of Mr. Chicherin".