Dear friend! News has come today that the Executive Committee of the International Socialist Bureau has scheduled a so-called "unification" conference for July 16, 17, and 18 in Brussels.

We need to form a delegation. Whether we will go is unknown. Perhaps Grigory, but it's more likely that he won't.

On behalf of the Central Committee, I am asking you to agree to join the delegation.

We will cover the travel expenses.

We will work out the detailed tactics.

If there is even the slightest possibility to arrange for the children for 6-7 days (or even less, as the conference is only 3 days), then I would ask you to agree. You are well-versed in the matters, speak French excellently, and read Pravda. We are also considering Popov, Kamsky, Yuri. Letters have been sent to all of them.

So, reply immediately, without delay. Agree!

Very truly, V. I.

We have not yet decided and have not formed the delegation: we are still looking. All preliminary negotiations for now. But time is short.

We must hurry very much!!

Agree, really! You will get a good shake-up and bring benefit to the cause!!

Grigory's wife is ill. I do not want to go "on principle." It seems the Germans (the embittered Kautsky and Co.) want to spite us. So be it! We will calmly (which I am not capable of) on behalf of the majority of 8/10, in the most courteous (which I am not capable of) French, propose our conditions. And you, having become bolder, having read the reports, would conduct it excellently!

If dear comrades want unity, here are the conditions of the majority of conscious workers of Russia. If they don't want it, so be it!!

"They" want to give us a "battle" (a general one) in Vienna. An empty threat!! They can do nothing!!

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Written in July, before the 4th, 1914

Sent from Poronin to Lovran (Austria-Hungary, now Yugoslavia)

Published for the first time, from the manuscript