MEMORANDUM TO I. V. STALIN WITH A DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b) ON THE QUESTION OF FORMING A FEDERATION OF THE TRANSCAUCASIAN REPUBLICS
28/XI.
Comrade Stalin! I broadly agree with you. However, I believe that the formulation should be slightly different.
1) To recognize the federation of the Transcaucasian republics as fundamentally entirely correct and unquestionably worthy of implementation—though in terms of immediate, practical realization, it is still premature, requiring a certain period of time for discussion, propaganda, and grassroots Soviet-based mobilization;
2) To propose that the Central Committees of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan (through the Caucasus Bureau) broaden the question of federation for party-wide discussion among workers and peasant masses, vigorously advance propaganda in favor of federation, and carry it through the Soviets’ congresses of each republic; and in the event of significant opposition, to report accurately and in a timely manner to the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP.
Lenin
Written on November 28, 1921.
First published, in incomplete form, in 1923 in the book “The XII Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). April 17–25, 1923. Bulletins.” Moscow, published by RIO VTsIK.

Printed in full for the first time, from the manuscript.