Variant of Protocol Record
Вариант протокольной записи
Date: 1917
Source: PSS vol 31
Translated by: AI (Claude)

I do not agree with the previous speaker.

In Borgbjerg's proposal we have a political fact of extraordinary importance, which obliges us to expose the social-chauvinists, to unfold a political campaign. The English and French "socialists" refused Borgbjerg's proposal. The English and French Plekhanovs are not going to this conference. Borgbjerg's proposals are a comedy. The German social-chauvinists are proposing their peace terms through Borgbjerg. They do this through a socialist to thereby cover their social-chauvinist intrigue. This must be exposed so that they lose all desire to appeal to socialist parties.

There cannot be a shadow of doubt that this is a proposal of the German government, which acts through its social-chauvinists. It is organizing this congress... It itself cannot openly go for this and does it through its Plekhanovs. By this diplomatic step the German government removes responsibility from itself and at the same time preaches through them its secret desires. I will read to you a report from one of the foreign newspapers about Borgbjerg: "The German Kaiser through a Danish social-chauvinist wishes to convene a peace conference in his interests." It is clear that Borgbjerg's proposal is simple charlatanism and deception. Further, we have a report from "Rabochaya Gazeta." (Reads the report from "Rabochaya Gazeta" of April 25, 1917.) It is indubitable, thus, that this is a proposal of the German government. This is how such matters are done. Our task is to expose this background to the whole world, that is, to bring out a detailed resolution, translate it into several languages and print it in all newspapers. I propose a draft resolution.

It is curious that the capitalist newspapers diplomatically keep silent. They know the rule: speech is silver, silence is golden. The bourgeois newspapers know where the dog is buried. Newspapers like "Rabochaya Gazeta" feel helpless. Only "Edinstvo" prints that Borgbjerg is an agent of the German government. But, indicating right there that neither the English and French social-chauvinists, nor the Russian Plekhanovs will in any way go to this conference, it thereby exposes the English, French and Russian governments, which, knowing the really difficult position of Germany, think to satisfy their appetites at her expense. We must reveal this comedy with disguises. We must say how such things are done: Bethmann-Hollweg goes to Wilhelm, Wilhelm summons Scheidemann, Scheidemann goes to Denmark, and as a result - Borgbjerg goes to Russia with peace terms. (Reads the resolution.)

Trier is a Danish Marxist. Denmark is a petty-bourgeois country. Its bourgeoisie has profited from the war and hates the workers. The leaders of the majority of Danish social-democracy are among the most opportunistic in Europe. They have clearly shown that they are real social-chauvinists. And we must be fair and say about Borgbjerg the same thing we say about Plekhanov. If they shout beautiful phrases at us about Alsace-Lorraine, we must remember that this most closely concerns the pocket. In fact, it is about extraordinarily rich ores. This is a matter of profit, a peaceful division of spoils between German and French capitalists. The Danish internationalists refused this. I forgot to mention that the Kautskyites agreed to go to the conference, this must be exposed. The proposal through Borgbjerg says that German capitalists are bargaining, for they are not in a position to hold what they have conquered. Germany's position is desperate, she is on the edge of ruin. And German capitalists now still hope to hold a piece. The diplomats are in firm connection with each other, everything is clear to them, known. Such things are only not told to the people. The Anglo-French chauvinists did not agree to go to the conference, for they knew perfectly well the true state of affairs. Not for nothing did they go into ministers. The question now is about strangling and robbing Germany, for she can no longer conduct a conquest policy. Borgbjerg is an agent of German imperialism. If the soldiers receive this resolution, then they will understand that now the matter is about strangling Germany to the end. Congresses are comedies, where social-chauvinist diplomats gather. Here is a congress, and in the next room they will divide Alsace-Lorraine. We must once and for all tell the truth about congresses, to open the people's eyes. If we adopt this manifesto, print it, translate it into foreign languages and distribute it among workers and soldiers, then they will understand the real state of affairs. This campaign will be a campaign of the most genuine kind, this will be an elucidation of the proletarian line.

First published in 1958 in the book "Seventh (April) All-Russian Conference of the RSDLP (b). Petrograd City-Wide Conference of the RSDLP (b). April 1917. Protocols"
Printed from the text of the book