V. I. Lenin

Letter To The Political Bureau Re:

The Resolution Of The Ninth All-Russia Congress Of Soviets On The International Situation [1]

I ask that the question be discussed as to whether the Congress
of Soviets ought to adopt a special resolution against the
adventurist policy of Poland, Finland and Rumania (for a number
of reasons it is better to say nothing about Japan). In the
resolution it must be comprehensively explained that no
government of Russia (except the Soviet Government) has ever
recognised or could recognise the criminal nature of the
imperialist policy in respect of the outlying regions of the
former Russian Empire pursued both by tsarism. and by the
Provisional Government, which had the backing of the Mensheviks
and Socialist-Revolutionaries. The resolution should state in
detail how much we have shown by deeds that we value both the
sell-determination of nations and peaceful relations with the
states that were once part of the Russian Empire. Say in detail
that we fully anticipate a peaceful attitude, not only on the
part of the workers and peasants of all the countries mentioned,
but also on the part of a huge section of the reasonable
bourgeoisie and the governments in respect of the adventurist
elements, end up with a sharp threat to the effect that if the
adventurist fooling with gangs similar to the former Savinkov
gangs does not stop, and if they continue to interfere with our
peaceful work, we shall arise in a people’s war, and those
who take part in adventures and banditism will be completely
crushed.

Instruct Trotsky and Chicherin to draw up a draft resolution.

A Congress resolution with such a content would be convenient
for mass distribution in all languages.

Lenin

December 22, 1921

Endnotes

[1] Lenin’s recommendation that the Ninth All-Russia Congress of Soveits adopt a special resolution against the adventurist policy of the bourgeois governments of Poland, Finland and Romania was approved by the Political Bureau of the C.C., R.C.P.(B), at a meeting on December 22, 1921