528. TELEGRAM TO D. Z. MANUILSKY

Written on February 22, 1920 · First published in 1957 in the book: V. I. Lenin, Ob Ukraine (On the Ukraine), Kiev. Printed from the text of the telegraph form. · page 343

Manuilsky
Headquarters of the South-Western Front
Kharkov

Sapronov is wrong, because before focussing on the middle peasant it is necessary first, before that, to organise the poor peasants. This must definitely be done, and best done not in the form of Poor Peasants’ Committees, but in the form of Soviets composed exclusively of poor and middle peasants, with special measures on our part for safeguarding the interests of the poor peasants and for collection of grain. I asked you about transport since the chief task now is to step up the transport of troops   and complete the defeat of Denikin. We must mobilise the workers for this and at all costs bring up large forces quickly and win back Rostov. I ask Stalin to reply to me whether he is taking all measures.

Lenin