On the Formation of a Federation of Transcaucasian Republics

Written 28 November 1921

Editor’s note: In this article Lenin is pushing back against SG Ordzhonikidze and JV Stalin and their proposal for a Transcaucasian Federation (of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). The Georgian CC raised a series of objections to the formation of the Federation, but in March 1922, the Federal Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of Transcaucasia was established.

* * *

Comrade Stalin, in the main I agree with you, but I feel that the wording should be somewhat amended.

  1. While a federation of Transcaucasian republics is absolutely correct in principle, and should be implemented without fail, its immediate practical realisation must be regarded as premature, i.e. a certain period of time will be required for its discussion, propagation and adoption by lower Soviet bodies;
  2. The Central Committees of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan shall be instructed (through the Caucasian Bureau) to submit the federation question for broad discussion in the party and by the worker and peasant masses, conduct vigorous propaganda in favour of a federation and secure decisions to that effect by the congresses of Soviets in each of these republics. Should serious opposition arise, the Political Bureau[1] of the CC, RCP must be informed accurately and in good time.

Lenin

Endnotes

[1] The Political Bureau was a body elected for the first time in October 1917 by the CC of the Russian Communist Party in order to give it day to day political leadership.