Revolutionary Military Council of the First Cavalry Army, Voroshilov.

Kharkov, 22/7.

First, the advance of the Western Front is proceeding successfully; the first line of Polish defense -- the Neman-Shchara -- has already been broken in the Slonim area. If the Poles fail to stop us at the second line -- the Bug-Narew -- they will have to roll back to the third line -- the Vistula-San. Now the Western Front stands closer to Brest-Litovsk than the South-Western Front. It is possible that, in connection with this circumstance, your army will have to give up Brest and swing southward.

Second. You probably know that we have rejected the mediation of England, which proposed an armistice with Poland, and have expressed our agreement to negotiate if Poland addresses Russia directly, without intermediaries. You understand that if Poland applies on her own, we cannot refuse an armistice; therefore it is necessary, as far as possible, to hasten the advance of your army forward.

Third. We are preparing march reinforcements for you; the right of voluntary mobilization in the Don, Kuban, and North Caucasus granted to the South-Western Front will be used in every way by the front to strengthen, first and foremost, your army.

Stalin.

Source: Bolshevik Leadership. Correspondence. 1912-1927, p. 146.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 1841. L. 1-4.