Letter to the CC of the RSDLP(b), February 22, 1918

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Please include my vote in favour of getting potatoes and arms from the bandits of Anglo-French imperialism.[1]

Lenin

  1. ↑ The Party Central Committee, at its meeting on February 22, 1918, discussed the question of procuring from Britain and France arms and food necessary for the defence of the Soviet Republic against the advancing German troops. This was opposed by the “Left Communists”, who regarded any agreement with the imperialists as impermissible in principle.
    Lenin could not attend the meeting and therefore sent his opinion to the Central Committee.
    The Party Central Committee adopted a resolution recognising the need to use every means to arm and equip the Red Army, including that of obtaining armaments and equipment from governments of capitalist countries, while at the same time pursuing a fully independent foreign policy. On the same day a sitting of the Council of People’s Commissars also passed a decision in favour of obtaining arms and food supplies from Britain and France (see also present edition, Vol. 27, pp. 36–39).