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 Bolshevik leadership Correspondence. 1912-1927
Collection of documents 1996.
Compiled by: A.V.Kvashonkin, L.P.Kosheleva, L.A.Rogovaya, O.V.Khlevnyuk.

Stalin Correspondences

Telegram from A. L. Sheinman to G. V. Chicherin, I. V. Stalin, G. K. Ordzhonikidze

December 6, 1920

Moscow.

Narkomindel Comrade Chicherin,

copy to Comrade Stalin.

Baku Comrade Ordzhonikidze.

Tiflis, December 6, 1920

The Georgian government, in connection with the Sovietization of Armenia, either came to an agreement with the Entente, or fell into a panic.

In any case, the attitude of the Georgian government towards us has changed dramatically.

One of my best employees has been arrested for several days now. Informed of this, Chicherin proposed arresting the employees of Makharadze 1 in Moscow. I agreed. [About] further I do not know.

Last night employees and secretaries of local communist newspapers were arrested. Last night, the Georgian police surrounded Legrand's train standing on the tracks, which could not proceed to Erivan due to damage to the track. The train is still under arrest, and entry into the cars, exit from them and the transition from one to another is prohibited. I consider it necessary to immediately, under some pretext, suspend the export of oil products to Georgia.

Second. - In Erivan, the staff of the Georgian embassy was arrested under house arrest.

Third. Arrest someone [from] the employees of the Georgian embassy [in] Baku.

Informing [about] the above to Chicherin, I propose that he present an ultimatum from our side with the demand: first, the immediate transfer of the entire Wrangel fleet to us.

The second is the immediate restoration of the railway line and communication with Armenia.

Third, the immediate release of the administratively arrested communists.

Fourth, an absolute cessation of their repressions against our employees, in addition, an ultimatum from Soviet Armenia [with] the demand to immediately leave the neutral zone occupied by Georgia in the Borchali district and the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Ardagan 2 .

Chicherin's decision [to] a large extent depends on your conclusion, which I ask you to tell me how the operation is going in the Zakatala district 3 . Confirm receipt.

Sheinman.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 85. Op. 17. D. 17. L. 6-10. Handwritten text, transcription.

Notes:

1 This refers to G. Makharadze, who at that time was the official representative of the Georgian government in Moscow.

2 The neutral zone in the Borchali district, disputed between Armenia and Georgia, was formed in accordance with the decision of the conference in Tiflis in January 1919 after the Armenian-Georgian conflict. In connection with the Turkish offensive against Armenia, Georgia sent its troops into the neutral zone and occupied the border Ardagan.

3 We are talking about the introduction of Soviet troops into the Zagatala region in order to create a springboard for the further Sovietization of Georgia. The proposal to send troops to this area was made by Stalin to Lenin in a telegram from Vladikavkaz dated November 16 or 17, 1920. Stalin suggested "[...] concentrate his troops in Zakatala and, using a convenient excuse, move around [to] Tiflis [ ...]" (RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. Op. 2. D. 25. L. 1-2).