Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

316MEETING OF THE ALL-RUSSIA CENTRALEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,NOVEMBER 10 (23), 19171REPORT ON TALKS WITH DUKHONINThe full text of our talks with Dukhonin has been printed,so I can confine myself to a few remarks. It was clear to usthat we were dealing with an opponent of the people’swill and an enemy of the revolution. Dukhonin resorted toall manner of shifts and dodges to delay matters. Doubtwas expressed as to the authenticity of our message, and thequery was not addressed to Krylenko but to General Manikovsky.Thus, the generals have stolen at least one full dayin this important and vital matter of peace. General Dukhonincame to the apparatus only when we said we wouldrefer the matter to the soldiers. We told Dukhonin of ourdemand that he should start armistice negotiations immediately,and nothing more. Dukhonin was not empowered toconclude an armistice. Not only was the conclusion of anarmistice outside Dukhonin’s competence, but his everystep in the matter of the armistice negotiations was to havebeen under the control of the People’s Commissars. Thebourgeois press has accused us of offering a separate armisticeand of ignoring the interests of the Rumanian Army. Thatis a lie. We propose that the peace talks should be startedimmediately, and an armistice concluded with all countries,without exception. We have information that our wirelessmessages have been reaching Europe. Thus, our messageabout the victory over Kerensky* was monitored and* See p. 274 of this volume.—Ed.