Telegram to V.I. Lenin, July 13, 1920

Source: Tom 17

Moscow, Kremlin, Lenin.

The Polish armies are completely falling apart; the Poles have lost communications and command; Polish orders, instead of reaching their addressees, are increasingly falling into our hands. In short, the Poles are experiencing a collapse from which they will not soon recover. This circumstance is evidently well known to Curzon, who is now trying to save the Poles with his armistice proposal. The same circumstance explains the proposal regarding Wrangel, for with the defeat of Poland, Wrangel loses his significance, and the British lose Crimea. You are entirely right in saying that they want to snatch victory from our hands.

I propose: First, in the reply note on Poland, not to give a definite answer; to emphasize in general phrases Russia's love of peace and to say that if Poland truly wants peace, she could address Russia directly. This gives us a gain of time.

Second, regarding Wrangel, it is necessary, first, to emphasize that Curzon's mediation between Wrangel and the Soviet Government, which has already been attempted once, did not justify itself; second, to point out that the Crimea has not yet been severed from Russia, and that Wrangel is a Russian general with whom Russia can establish one or another modus vivendi just as she generally settles her internal affairs independently -- that all internal questions, including the Crimean question, Russia will resolve on her own.

I think that imperialism has never been so weak as now, at the moment of Poland's defeat, and that we have never been so strong as now; therefore the more firmly we conduct ourselves, the better it will be both for Russia and for the international revolution. Communicate the decision of the Politburo.

Stalin.

Source: Bolshevik Leadership. Correspondence. 1912-1927, pp. 142-143.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 1815. L. 2-5.