V. I.

Lenin

261

To:   J. V. STALIN

To Vasilyev

14/XII.

Dear Friend, We learned today that the board of the co-operative [4] is, to be dissolved within a week. There is therefore
very little time left. We earnestly ask you to take all steps to:
1) transfer
Dyen [5] in good time to
No. 5, [6] or at any rate make certain, concretely and with full
guarantees, that the funds are in his hands. The financial crisis is
terribly acute. Subscription money is now all we have. To leave this in
unreliable hands would be a crime!
2) It is necessary at once to prepare (or to take those already prepared by
us and sent long ago) articles and statements by the six co-operators for
Dyen and publish them without delay. If we do not launch an
energetic campaign for subscriptions, for donations, for support, we are
lost.
3) Get Misha’s
collegium [7] to pass a resolution against
No. 16, [1] to counteract the liquidators’ resolutions.
4) See to it that the gathering of all (without exception) which has been
finally decided upon is held—this is now trebly important. We are
dragging Spitsa in too.
5) Get Vasilyev out as soon as possible, otherwise you won’t be able to
save him, and he is needed and has already accomplished the main thing.

Please reply to this letter as soon as possible and especially about
Pravda . [2]

You wrote that “it smacks of a criminal act”. [8] We shall be finished if we do not turn over the whole
business (i.e., the publishing and the funds) to No. 5.

Best regards, Yours, [3]

P.S. The trip is possible only if undertaken immediately, if passports are
obtained for everybody at once, without delay, if you see to it that there
should be action, not promises. If it is postponed, they will all scatter
and nothing will come of it. It is extremely important to get everyone to
take part simultaneously, for otherwise again there will be no decisions,
no organisation, only promises, only talk.

P.P.S. You must do your best to put off the question of No. 16 until 1913,
many after all do not know the Party documents, and without them
it would be wrong for people to decide such a question.