Top Secret

Tov. Trotsky (copies to Volodymyr Molotov and Stalin)

The telegraphic connection between Moscow and Genoa for the time of the negotiations is of archival importance. It is necessary to put and solve this question quickly.

Will we have a telephone exchange in Moscow by 8/III, reaching Genoa? They promised, I think. I'll check.

Does our delegation have a receiver in Genoa?

And how will Genoa talk to us? Can't our warship be brought to Genoa with a station grabbing to Moscow?

If it is impossible or expensive, it is necessary to agree immediately with a special note about the wires for us (if it is very expensive, then a special wire to the nearest German station, and thence by agreement with the Germans whom we will protect in Genoa).

Think about it and put it to the Politburo as soon as possible.

Your Lenin.

Published - "Izvestiya TsK CPSU", 1990, No. 4, pp. 189-190.

Fund 2, op. 1, d. 27070 - copy.

1It seems that V.I.Lenin, having familiarized himself with the decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) of January 12, 1922 "On the Genoa delegation", paid attention to the last paragraph: "The technical side of the delegation and especially the question of communication to entrust t. Litvinov to discuss with t. Litvinov. Litvinov to discuss with t. Dovgalevsky" (RCCHIDNI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 251, l. 4).

L.D.Trotsky entrusted the fulfillment of Lenin's instruction to the Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic E.M.Sklyansky (see: The Trotsky papers. 1917-1922. V. II, p. 660)

On January 20, G.V.Chicherin wrote to Trotsky on this issue: "I received from you two envelopes and from Comrade Sklyansky one envelope on the question of radio-telegraphic communication during the conference, and passed all this to Comrade Gorbunov for joint discussion. We will have to take steps before foreign governments to secure for us one or the other telegraph lines. There are telegrams to the effect that the Governments themselves have already thought of this and we will only have to confront them. But this can only be done when the question of the place of the conference is settled. From the last cipher of Comrade Krasin you can see that in England there is a strong current in favor of London, for the choice of Genoa was the result of a compromise with France. Meetings are to begin in London on the technical preparations for the conference and, among other things, on moving it to London. As soon as the place of the conference is finally established, it will be necessary to confront the interested governments about our connection" (RCCHIDNI, f. 5, op. 1, d. 1952, fol. 15).

February 2, M.M.Litvinov submitted to the meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) questions about the radio station and about ciphers for the RSFSR delegation to the Genoa Conference; the Politburo decided: "The whole business of organizing ciphers for the Genoese delegation to entrust personally to ts. Litvinov and Bokiya for their personal responsibility" (RCCHIDNI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 259, l. 4).