Letter to Lev Kamenev and Joseph Stalin, March 9, 1921

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Kamenev and Stalin

Please pay attention to Dzerzhinsky’s reports on Sibera. There is an extremely great and terrible danger that our men will not be able to get on with the Siberian peasants. For all his good qualities, Chutskayev is unquestionably weak, has absolutely no military knowledge, and the slightest aggravation may threaten disaster there. I think we should discuss the question of sending Iv. N. Smirnov to Siberia not later than the beginning of the summer. He will, of course, very strongly object, but unless we have another candidate with a knowledge of Siberia and of military science, one who is sure not to lose his head in a difficult situation, I think that it will be absolutely inevitable for us to send Smirnov.[1]

9/III.1921. Lenin

  1. Lenin dictated the letter by phone to Lydia Fotieva. It had Stalin’s remark about his disagreement with Lenin’s proposal and also the signatures of F. E. Dzerzhinsky, L. B. Kamenev, V. M. Molotov and L. D. Trotsky signifying that they had read the document.