Moscow. Kremlin. Lenin.

The situation on the front near Minsk is not good at present. Near Dvinsk it is no better. Near Lubents it is even worse. Our units are battered. The reserves can be used in a month. The enemy does not want to wait. Pilsudski is sitting somewhere near Molodechno and boasting about the anticipated capture of Minsk. The Polish plan: to occupy up to the Dnieper, and then deploy Russian White Guard units, having first cobbled together some Russian government of the Rodzyanko type. It is reliably known that a Russian corps is already being formed in Warsaw. We could now remedy the situation if you gave us one suited division. I fear you will not do this now, and later, in a month, three divisions will not suffice. To stand where we now stand is impossible, for Minsk and Dvinsk will fall without a fight. Therefore we have decided on an offensive, patching and reinforcing units on the march. Perhaps something will come of it. The national units complicate matters somewhat; they should be replaced. The army commander is no good at all; he only spoils things. I did not manage to receive your reply to my letter from Smolensk. I ask that this coded message be read to Sklyansky. In the coming days I shall be in Smolensk.

Stalin.

Source: Lenin Miscellany XXXVI, pp. 110-111.