343. To THE ALL-RUSSIA GENERAL HEADQUARTERS

First published in 1942 in Lenin Miscellany XXXIV. Printed from the original. · page 239

31. V. 1919

Comrade Rattel,

The bearer, Comrade Yevgenia Bogdanovna Bosh, is a member of the Council of Defence of the Lithuanian– Byelorussian Republic.

Rifles and other arms are needed, also military instructors for organising workers’ battalions in Minsk.

It is said that the matter is being hindered by red tape and so on.

Please ascertain as precisely and quickly as possible what can and should be given, and telephone Sklyansky and myself.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Chairman, Council of Defence