V. I.

Lenin

414

To:   G. Y. ZINOVIEV ( Return Wijnkoop: isn’t he a fine fellow!)

I shall send the Russian books (the list).

As regards the French, I am uncertain: most could be obtained by asking
one of the Berne people to order them from the Geneva and Neuchâtel
libraries (lots of rubbish:
I have seen some of them in Paris). Money matters—in connection with the
following.

Yuri’s enclosed letter (return it). is a sample of insolent, stupid
kulak mentality. It was formally decided here to publish Golay and
Varin. [2] The Publishing Committee is bound to carry out this
decision. It’s just stupid wilfulness!! “It’s my purse and I do as I
like.” Clearly, we can’t work like this. Let them go, damn ’em. Publishing
(if they want) will have to be done here, and with the kulaks out of the
way, it will be easier for us.

It was formally decided here that they give 1/2 for transport
and write us within a week about the instalment dates.

Not a word ! It’s sheer mockery!

Bukharin’s letter (return it!) shows that it is impossible for
us to go under such difficulties (with a strange passport? They will
uncover us and arrest us to oblige the tsar!). [1]

Money is dwindling: most of the remaining thousand will be spent on two
issues of the C.O.+the pamphlet. And the fare? And the high cost of living
in Stockholm? And conditions for work there (library) are worse .

We must think it over again and again.

Wouldn’t it be better to let these kulak-minded stupid-heads take an
airing?

Send Golay to the C.O. (Golay must be published). I don’t feel
like answering Yuri: that foolish, insolent letter of his is
insufferable. Where is the limit? Promises, formal decisions—and “I’m
the boss, I’m not going to pay”!! No, there’s a limit to everything! This
is sheer barefaced lying!

My regards to everybody, Yours, Lenin

We haven’t got that No. of Rech . Maybe Yuri has it?