238. TELEGRAM TO I. T. SMILGA AND G. K. ORJONIKIDZE

First published in 1934 in the magazine Voina i revolutsia No. 1. Printed from the original. · page 439

All in code
March 11, 1920

Smilga and Orjonikidze
R.M.C., Caucasus Front
Copy to Stalin
R.M.C., South-Western Front

I am very glad of your report that you expect the complete defeat of Denikin soon, but I am afraid of your excessive optimism. The Poles evidently are going to make war with them inevitable. Therefore the main problem now is not the Caucasus Labour Army, but preparations for the speediest possible transfer of the maximum troops to the Western Front. Concentrate all your efforts on this problem. Make use of prisoners most energetically for the same purpose.

Lenin