Stalin to Voroshilov

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 of I. V. Stalin to K. E. Voroshilov

July 22 [1920]

Revolutionary Military Council of the First Cavalry, Voroshilov.

Kharkiv 22/7 1

First, the Western Front is advancing successfully, the first line of the Polish defense - Neman - Shara - has already been broken [in] the Slonim area, if the Poles fail to stop us on the second line - Bug - Narew, then they will have to roll to the third line - Vistula - San. Now the Western Front is closer to Brest-Litovsk than the South[o]-Western [front]. It is possible that in connection with this circumstance your army will have to abandon Brest and turn south. Second. You must know that we rejected the mediation of England, which offered an armistice with Poland, and expressed our consent if Poland herself turned to Russia without intermediaries . You will understand that if Poland converts itself, we cannot refuse a truce, therefore it is necessary to hasten as much as possible in moving your army forward 3 .

Third. We are preparing reinforcement marches for you, the right of volunteer mobilization given to the Yugzap in the Don, Kuban, Northern Caucasus will be used in every possible way by the front to strengthen [primarily] your army.

Stalin.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 1841. L. 1-4. Autograph. The last paragraph is an autograph of an unknown person.

Notes:

1 A telegram was sent from Kharkov to the RVS of the 1st Cavalry Army.

2 See note 5 to document No. 86.

3 The idea of the need to speed up the offensive and occupy as much of the territory of Poland as possible before it applied with a proposal to conclude a truce was expressed by Stalin in a telegram to the Politburo dated June 29, 1920 (RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 1777. L. 2).