from Stalin to Lenin

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 J. V. Stalin to V. I. Lenin

July 13, 1920

Moscow — Kremlin, Lenin 1

The Polish armies are completely falling apart, the Poles have lost communications, control, Polish orders, instead of getting to the address, more and more often fall into our hands, in a word, the Poles are experiencing a collapse from which they will not soon recover. This circumstance is obviously well known to Curzon, who is now trying to save the Poles with his proposal for an armistice .. The same circumstance should explain the proposal about Wrangel, for with the defeat of Poland, Wrangel loses its importance, and the British lose the Crimea. You are absolutely right when you say that they want to wrest victory from our hands. I propose: first, in a reply note about Poland, do not give a definite answer, emphasize in general terms the peacefulness of Russia and say that if Poland really wants peace, she could appeal to Russia directly. This gives a gain in time. Secondly, about Wrangel, it is necessary, firstly, to emphasize that Curzon's mediation between Wrangel and the Soviet [Russian] government, once already taking place, did not justify itself, and secondly, to point out that the Crimea has not yet been torn away from Russia, and Wrangel is Russian general,with which Russia itself can establish this or that mode, just as it generally arranges its internal affairs on its own 3 , that all internal issues, including the Crimean issue, Russia will resolve independently 4 . I think that imperialism has never been as weak as it is now, at the moment of the defeat of Poland, and we have never been as strong as we are now, therefore, the firmer we behave, the better it will be both for Russia and for the international revolution. Report Politburo decision 5 .

Stalin 6

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 1815. L. 2-5. Autograph.

Notes:

oneThe telegram was sent from Kharkov (headquarters of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southwestern Front) to Moscow and is a response to Lenin's telegram sent to Stalin on July 12 or 13, 1920: “[...] A note has been received from Curzon. Curzon proposes an armistice with Poland on the condition that the Polish army withdraw behind the line assigned to it by the peace conference last year [...] Everything to the east remains with us. Our army must withdraw 50 kilometers east of this line. A conference of representatives of Soviet Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland will be held in London [...] Representatives of Eastern Galicia will be admitted there [...] We are invited to conclude a truce with Wrangel under the condition of Wrangel's removal to the Crimea. Wrangel goes to London to discuss the fate of his army, but not as a member of the conference. We are given a week to respond [...] I ask Stalin: 1) speed up the order for a frenzied intensification of the offensive; 2) inform me of his, Stalin's, opinion. I personally think that this is a complete scam for the sake of annexing Crimea [...]” (Lenin V.I. PSS. T. 51. S. 237-238). On July 13, 1920, Trotsky sent a telegram similar in content to Chicherin, Lenin, Krestinsky, Stalin and Kalinin (The Trotsky papers. Vol. 2. P. 228-230).

2 In a note to the Soviet government dated July 11, 1920, Curzon demanded to stop the advance of the Red Army beyond the Grodno-Yalovka-Nemirov-Brest-Litovsk-Dorogusk-Ustilug line, established in December 1919 by the Supreme Council of the Entente as the eastern border of Poland and recognized by Poland only in connection with the unfavorable course of hostilities for her. This line was called the Curzon Line.

3 Text in italics crossed out by Stalin's hand.

On July 14, 1920, Stalin, in furtherance of this thought, telegraphed Lenin: “[...] Curzon's note speaks of a conference in London with the representation of Russia. My opinion is that if we ever have negotiations with Poland, they should be conducted in Russia, because to arrange negotiations in London, appointing Krasin as your representative, means placing the matter under the tutelage of England. Keep in mind that our ciphers in London are deciphered by the British, for there is no cipher that would not be deciphered” (RTSKHIDNI, F. 558. On. 1. D. 1818, fol. 1).

On July 16, 1920, the plenum of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) decided to reject the mediation of England in the negotiations between the RSFSR and Poland and continue the offensive of the troops of the Western Front on the territory of Poland. On July 17, 1920, a corresponding note was sent to Curzon (Documents of Foreign Policy of the USSR, vol. 3, pp. 47-53). On the same day, Lenin informed Stalin and Smilga about this (Lenin V.I. PSS. T. 51. P. 240).

6 On the reverse side there is a note: “13-14. VII 1920". In addition, a typewritten copy of the same telegram has been preserved, dated sending - 13/VIІ-1920 at 23:30 and receiving in Moscow - 14/VIІ-1920 at 0:35. On the copy there is a note: “Deciphered in SNK 14 / VTI-1920, 2 hours 28 minutes.”