Of course, besides excellent French you need understanding of the substance of the matter and
tact. Besides you there is no one else. Therefore I ask, I ask with all my might that you agree at least for one day (you will deliver the report, excuse yourself that the family is ill, leave, handing over to Popov).

If you have already refused in writing, send a telegram (Uljanow. Poronin - 10 words cost 60 hellers): "agree one day," "agree only 16th," and so on.

I press your hand firmly. Sincerely devoted to you
V. I.

We will write the Central Committee Report*. Your task will be to translate it and deliver it with commentary, which we shall agree upon.

P. S. The new chairman is not here but must come very soon**.

Kamsky, Popov, you. Safarov, only as secretary, that is how I plan the composition of the delegation.

I hope you will not now decline my demand. A good "lecture" in French, in good French will help our party extremely***.

I am very anxious about Brussels. Only you could conduct it splendidly. Gregory can hardly go: Zina is still in the hospital ("phlegmon" a nasty business) and he is completely worn out. I am not suitable here. And besides Gregory speaks only German (and poorly at that), and for us not to have a "Frenchspeaker" — means to lose 9/10!!

(Austria-Hungary, now Yugoslavia)

in 1959 in the journal "Questions for the first time, from the manuscript

* See V. I. Lenin. "Report of the Central Committee of the RSDLP and Instructive Directives of the Central Committee Delegation at the Brussels Conference" (Works, 5th ed., vol. 25, pp. 361-405). Ed.

** — There is no new chairman yet, but he must arrive very soon. Ed.

*** — I hope that now you will not decline my request. A good "lecture" in French, in good French, will help our party extraordinarily. Ed.

Written in July, before the 6th, 1914

Sent from Poronin to Lovran

First published incompletely of the History of the CPSU" no. 5

Published in full