39. INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY

Written on February 14, 1918 · First published in 1933 in Lenin Miscellany XXI. Printed from the original. · page 63

Give this telegram to Chicherin and request him urgently to send an inquiry and protest to the Swedish Ambassador.^[1]

Lenin

Notes

[1] The instruction was written by Lenin beneath the text of a telegram received from the Command of the Baltic Fleet. The telegram stated: “A Swedish steamer, a cruiser and a destroyer flying the Swedish naval flag, arrived off the Öland Island, landed 15 Swedish marines, and by threatening to use their arms forced our communications personnel to retreat.”

Lenin simultaneously sent a telegram to the Finnish People’s Government (see the document that follows).