Lyadov has already taken for you. The I.S. Bureau proposes a conference for conciliation, with delegates from us and from the Mensheviks, to be chaired by members of the I.S. Bureau. Foreign Social-Democrats (Bebel and others) are vigorously agitating for the I.S.B. to put pressure on us. Even the English have sent such letters (the “Social-Democratic Federation”; I have a copy of the letter—in the usual conciliatory spirit, saying it is a crime to quarrel at such a time, etc., etc. 55).

I have written to the I.S. Bureau that I am not competent to decide this question myself; it requires a decision of the whole Central Committee, to which I am writing forthwith. I then inquired whether they have in view mediation only or an arbitration court, binding on both sides—it is important for me to write about this to the Central Committee. I have not yet received an answer from them.

My opinion is this. We should certainly agree to the conference. Fix the date for about September 1. Be sure to send 1–2 members of the Central Committee from Russia (do not forget that our congress is called for September 1 and is extremely necessary in all respects). Accept the mediation with gratitude. Reject compulsory arbitration on the basis of the resolution of the Third Congress 56, which absolutely binds us and which says that the conditions for complete fusion with the Mensheviks must be submitted for approval to the Fourth Congress. The Third Congress instructed us to prepare and work out these conditions, but not to finally approve them. In carrying out the mandate of the Third Congress, we accept mediation, and will try to work out immediately a detailed modus of agreement and gradual fusion. If we succeed, we will immediately put the agreement into effect, and propose the plan of fusion to the Fourth Congress, which must then be convened at the same time and place as a compulsory congress of all Menshevik organisations. It is extremely important to bear in mind that the Mensheviks have no centre whose decisions are binding on them. Iskra is not subordinate to the Organising Commission. We must not play the fool by negotiating with people who are not entitled to and cannot speak on behalf of the whole Menshevik section.

It is therefore necessary to point out at once that the delegates from the Mensheviks at the meeting with the I.S. Bureau must include both the Organising Commission and Iskra, and, moreover, must promise to poll all Menshevik organisations within a short period, giving us a list of them. However, if from the Russian point of view it is more important for you that the Russian Mensheviks should predominate, then you will discuss whether special delegates from Iskra are necessary. You know best about that. But do not forget that without the consent of Iskra, all agreements will be a fiction.

Another question: should we inform the I.S. Bureau of the secret resolution of the Third Congress? Are we entitled to do so? I am hesitating. Of course, informing our comrade socialists of Europe is not a “publication,” and they can be bound not to publish it. But is it advisable? Decide for yourselves. It is easy to give a satisfactory explanation even without mentioning the resolution of the Third Congress that binds us.

I shall publish the open letter to the Organising Commission in No. 11 of Proletary (No. 10 is coming out already); I did not print it before because I was waiting for your explanation, which arrived only yesterday. Please write on each document whether it is to be printed and whether immediately.

So, please reply as quickly as possible, at least in the name of Werner and Schmidt: 1) Will you write the reply to the I.S. Bureau yourselves or authorise me to do so? 2) Do you approve of my reply or not? 3) If not, I would very much ask you to hurry with the reply, so that we come to a complete understanding: any misunderstanding in such a matter, or lack of clarity, or lack of information is fraught with great dangers.

P. S. Please forward my letters to Dubois, I do not have his address.

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Sent from Geneva to Russia

First published in 1926
in Lenin Miscellany V

Printed from the manuscript.