Written: Written after July 5, 1915
Published:
First published in 1964 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 49.
Sent from Sörenberg to Hertenstein.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
[1977],
Moscow,
Volume 43,
pages 458-459.
Translated: Martin Parker and Bernard Isaacs
Transcription\Markup:
R. Cymbala
Public Domain:
Lenin Internet Archive
(2005).
You may freely copy, distribute,
display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
Archive” as your source.
Dear Friend,
I am greatly surprised that you—for no apparent reason—have shirked a meeting!
There was no need to make peace, as the visitors were remarkably peaceable (only one of them wanted Kamenev, expelled from the Party). We came to an agreement splendidly (without posts).[1]
The translation of Radek is not very good (Part I is dull) (it is needed, though, for the sake of solidity). I have for warded it to N. I.[2]
Before I forget. The visitors have persuaded me that it is not worth airing in the press our differences in the Editorial Board of Kommunist (about you and me having voted against Trotsky). They are right. Delete it!!
As to Chkheidze’s group,[3] we must start a campaign against it. Therefore (since the passage regarding the voting is to be deleted), I raise again the question of inserting my small article “An Instructive Experience” (the talk with the visitors has shown once again that the whole crux now is in the Chkheidze group).
N.B. No one from us is writing an answer to Maslov!! Won’t Radek write at least a review?[4]
Best regards,
Yours,
Lenin
Radek for some reason is silent!! I shall wait a bit longer.
Did you receive No. 2 of Nashe Dyelo and Izvestia?
Shouldn’t the chapter from Gorter about Kautsky & Co. be translated? I think it should!
[[DOUBLE-LEFT-BOTTOM-HALF-B0X-ENDS:
I am sending Abram’s
article.[5] I am for it. The essential thing is
facts, not mere “tactics”. He has a useful collection of
facts. I have made corrections here and there. I advise signing it
A. B. for secrecy reasons (for the sake of the author’s safety).]]
In the event of your coming I add: Schüpfheim—720 metres, Flühli—8 km from it—893 m and Sörenberg within 10 km of Flühli—1,165 m. It is a drive road. You can cycle uphill one-third of the way from Flühli to Sörenberg (descent to Flühli =20 minutes by bicycle).
P.S. How do your talks stand with Yuri about money for transportation? Alexander is getting ready. Write how much can be received and when.
P.S. What about Karpinsky’s contributions? He’s offended, I believe.
The preceding was written yesterday.
I didn’t manage to send it off yesterday. I have received Vorwärts+Adler. Thanks very much.
N. I. asks for Abram’s article.
I am sending N. I.’s article and review (with remarks).[6]
I advise putting the review in Notes. Of course, if we have to choose, I am for N. I., not for Abram.
I am sending Radek’s letter. I think we ought to snatch at the plan of a pamphlet with both hands.[7] I am writing to Radek.
I propose that we publish Attitude of Russian Social-Democracy to the War: 1) Manifesto; 2) Resolution; 3) A specially written article on slogans, etc.; 4) Ditto on the history of the split in the R.S.D.L.P. and on the R.S.D.L. Group in the Duma ((the articles from the C.O. are quite unsuitable)). Let us discuss the matter by letter without delay and divide the subjects.
Would Yuri give money for this pamphlet? Very important.
Regards to everybody,
Yours,
Lenin
Have you got Voprosy Strakhovaniya Nos. 3 and 4? If not, we shall send them.
[1] This apparently refers to Yelena Rozmirovich, G. L. Pyatakov and Yevgenia Bosh who visited Lenin in Sörenberg in July 1945 for talks concerning the Journal Kommunist.
[2] Lenin is referring to Radek’s article “A Quarter of a Century of Development of Imperialism” (the first part of it was published in the journal Kommunist No. 1–2).
[3] The Chkheidze group—the Menshevik group in the Fourth Duma led by N. S. Chkheidze. While taking a Centrist stand, it actually gave full support to the policy of the Russian social-chauvinists. Lenin criticised the opportunist line of the Chkheidze group in his articles “The Chkheidze Faction and Its Role”, “Have the Organising Committee and the Chkheidze Group a Policy of Their Own?” (see present edition, Vol. 23, pp. 474–74, and Vol. 22, pp. 134–36) and in other works.
[4] The reference is to P. Maslov’s book Economic Causes of the World War which appeared in Moscow in 1915.
A review of the book was written by N. I. Bukharin but not published because the Journal had stopped coming out.
[5] This refers to the article “Qui prodest?” by N. V. Krylenko which was to have been published in the journal Kommunist. The article did not appear.
[6] Apparently this refers to N. I. Bukharin’s article “World Economy and Imperialism” and his review of P. Maslov’s book Economic Causes of the World War for the Journal Kommunist.
[7] This refers to Radek’s letter to Lenin dated July 5, 1945, suggesting that a pamphlet be written giving the views of the C.C., R.S.D.L.P. on the attitude towards the war.
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