450. To L. D. TROTSKY

Written on October 22, 1919 · First published in 1942 in Lenin Miscellany XXXIV. Printed from the original. · page 300

Comrade Trotsky,

In my opinion, Chicherin is right.^[1] Has it been verified that the Estonians are fighting? Is there not deception here? Or is it not only White Estonians (officers) who have joined Yudenich, people who constitute a minority, and an insignificant one, among the Estonians?

We must think it over ten times, measure the cloth ten times, for there is a mass of information pointing to a desire for peace on the part of the Estonian peasantry.

Greetings,
Lenin

22/X.

Notes

[1] In a letter to Lenin dated October 22, 1919, Chicherin objected to Trotsky’s proposal for starting a war against Estonia. He wrote that Yudenich would have to be pursued on Estonian territory only if he retreated there. Chicherin pointed out the need to do everything to avoid invading Estonia.