560. To G. Y. SOKOLNIKOV[1]
Comrade Sokolnikov:
I am sending you this secretly.[2]
I think that Safarov is right (partially, at any rate).
I earnestly request you to examine this objectively to prevent any squabble, quarrel or revenge from spoiling the work in Turkestan.
Write me a couple of words.[3]
22.XII.
Greetings,
Lenin
Notes
[1] By a Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) C.C. decision of October 14, 1921, G. Y. Sokolnikov was appointed Chairman of the Turkestan Bureau of the R.C.P.(B.) Central Committee and the Turkestan Commission of the All-Russia C.E.C. and the R.S.F.S.R. Council of People’s Commissars.
[2] A reference to G. I. Safarov’s letter to Lenin about distortions of the Party’s national policy in Turkestan. On December 22, 1921, the Politbureau set up a commission to examine the question of Turkestan affairs. See this volume, Documents 306, 383 and 562.
[3] On December 24, 1921, G. Y. Sokolnikov informed Lenin about the charges levelled against G. I. Safarov and his opinion of the case. A copy of Sokolnikov’s letter with Lenin’s remarks was sent out to members of the Politbureau.