The Polish Social-Democratic Opposition’s shift at the Brussels Conference toward the Liquidators came as a complete surprise to many—and struck all party members with profound shock. It had long been assumed that the Polish Social-Democratic Opposition was no less closely aligned with the True Socialists than the Latvians. And then, out of the blue, while the Latvians stood firm against the Liquidators, the Polish Social Democrats suddenly defected!

What was going on?

The truth is that within the Polish Social Democrats there existed two distinct currents: one group sought to oust Tyszkiewicz and Rosa Luxemburg in order to pursue Tyszkiewicz’s own political line—namely, a policy of unprincipled diplomacy and “games” played between the bigwigs and the petty officials, between the Party and its Liquidators. Today they would vote for one faction; tomorrow, for another. Under the guise of “impartiality,” they would alternately align themselves with each side, bargaining for “favors and privileges.” The federalist provisions included in the Stockholm (1906) agreement between the Polish Social Democrats and the Russian Social Democrats{151} served as a convenient tool for this despicable maneuvering—maneuvering that Tyszkiewicz and Rosa Luxemburg had mastered with the finesse of true virtuosos.

The other current advocated a complete break with the Liquidators, with federalism, and with the “game” of oscillating like a pendulum between two contending factions—instead, it called for a sincere and close alliance with the True Socialists, with the Party itself.

At Brussels, the first current prevailed among the Polish Social Democrats. Naturally, this left us with an inevitable and profound sense of distrust toward the Polish Social Democrats. Time will tell whether the second current can unite, raise a clear, precise, and resolute banner of consistent, principled politics—a politics not only opposed to the Tyszkiewicz clique but also fundamentally at odds with the very essence of Tyszkiewicz’s methods. Needless to say, the unification of the Polish social-democratic proletariat is possible only on the basis of such a political program.

The forthcoming steps toward forging this unity will finally reveal the true state of affairs within Polish social democracy—and thereby determine our attitude toward it.

Written after July 7 (20), 1914.

First published in 1937 in Lenin’s Collected Works, Volume XXX.

Printed from manuscript.