281. TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO V. M. MOLOTOV FOR THE POLITBUREAU OF THE R.C.P.(B.) C.C.

First published in 1965 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 53. Printed from a typewritten copy. · page 229

Comrade Molotov:

Re: the draft agreement concerning the Dashnaks which Joffe initialled in Riga.^[1] I quite agree with Chicherin’s arguments and propose that the agreement should be resolutely and immediately rejected. I propose the immediate passage by phone of this resolution: “The draft agreement signed by Joffe and other comrades in Riga concerning the Dashnaks is hereby resolutely and immediately rejected.”

I believe Chicherin is absolutely right when he says that such an agreement is not only wrong, but dangerous.

Lenin

Notes

[1] A reference to the draft agreement with the nationalist Armenian Dashnaktsutyun party of July 14, 1921, which provided for the   integration with Soviet Armenia of Turkish territory inhabited by Armenians and the establishment of an “independent” Armenia. On July 26, the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) Central Committee rejected this draft agreement.