Telegram to G.K. Ordzhonikidze, May 14, 1922

Source: Tom 17

Tashkent, Comrade Ordzhonikidze.

14/V.

All coded messages received. I shall be able to transmit the CC's reply only tomorrow; today there is no possibility of assembling the CC. I communicate in the meantime my personal opinion on Bukhara. Eliyava is wrong: once the war has been started, occupation is inevitable; the sooner the better. The question can only concern the forms of occupation. It goes without saying that, simultaneously with the occupation, a prolonged political campaign is necessary along the lines of national and religious concessions, return of redemption lands. A corresponding directive was issued by the CC some three months ago to both the Bukharans and the Turkestanis. Mukhetdinov is dangerous; he is the chief culprit behind the Afghan orientation. A national-democratic government without representatives of the middle peasants-dehkans is either nonsense or the restoration of the emir. I advise you not to judge Bukharan affairs without Khojayev; the Turkestanis have to this day not shown objectivity toward the Bukharans. It would be good to summon Khojayev and others to Tashkent, talk with them thoroughly, and afterward send us your conclusions.

You are right about left communism in Bukhara and Turkestan. By recalling Safarov, we intended to weaken the left communists, who are implementing forced social stratification; clearly, they must be finished off. The Bukharan leftists should be dispersed, but Mukhetdin must also be expelled, since his supporters are Enver's agents.

I fully support the dissolution of the Bukharan Communist Party. Regarding Sokolov and Peters, one should not listen to the Turkestanis; try to verify for yourself and give your own conclusions. Khojayev should not be introduced into the Turkestan Front; Rakhimbayev is sufficient. On the question of judicial sentences, Krylenko is right; the Turkestanis are demanding more rights for themselves than the Ukrainians and other independent republics, which is intolerable. There is no reason to coddle the Turkestani Communists; they have not earned it. The last two years have shown that all of them together are inferior to Ryskulov, to whose return I do not object. Baranov needs... the caprices of Atabayev, Tyurakulov, and others have annoyed everyone. It is dangerous to consider Gusev's information satisfactory. Gusev is trailing behind politically underdeveloped elements; verify everything yourself through cross-examination and give your own conclusions. I have no doubt that the CC will determine the composition only with your and Eliyava's agreement. You will have to stay an extra two days in Tashkent; do not scold us for this.

Secretary of the CC of the RCP,

Stalin.

Source: Bolshevik Leadership. Correspondence. 1912-1927, pp. 251-252.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 2. D. 2329. L. 1-2.