546. TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY

Written in March, not earlier than 8 and not later than 20, 1920 · First published in 1965 in Collected Works, Fifth Ed., Vol. 51. Printed from the original. · page 354

Via the military
by army line
In C.C. code

Trotsky

The Poles are advancing further, we have evacuated Rechitsa. Gomel is said to be threatened, therefore, despite Stalin’s optimism, I consider essential and urgently necessary all the extraordinary measures you have proposed. In regard to the Commissariat for Railways, the Politbureau has decided to propose making you People’s Commissar for Railways, since Krasin will be going abroad hi a week, and Lomonosov, after typhus, will have recovered only in six weeks’ time.^[1] Reply immediately.

Lenin

Notes

[1] On March 8, 1920, the Politbureau of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) discussed the question of the People’s Commissar for Railways in view of the fact that Krasin was going abroad. It was decided: “That Comrade Lenin be asked to communicate with Comrade Trotsky” (Collected Works, Fifth Ed., Vol. 51, p. 413). On March 20, the Politbureau adopted a decision to put through the Presidium of the C.E.C. and the Council of People’s Commissars Trotsky’s appointment as Acting People’s Commissar for Railways.