V. I.

Lenin

103

To:   Y. O. MARTOV, SECRETARY OF THE PARTY COUNCIL

Reply to Comrade Martov

Comrade, I received your undated letter while travelling, and without having the Council
minutes at hand. At all events I consider it in principle absolutely
impermissible and unlawful that outside a Council meeting members of the Council
should give their votes or make arrangements on any matters that come within the
competence of the Council. I cannot therefore comply with your request about
voting for candidates. If I am not mistaken, the Council decided that all
Council members should represent our Party at the congress. [1]
Consequently, the question has been settled. If any Council member is
unable to go, then, in my opinion, he can appoint someone else in his place; I
do not know, of course, whether it is customary for international congresses to
permit such substitution, but I do not know of any obstacle to it in our Party
Rules or in the Party’s usual regulations. Personally I am also unable to
go and would like as a substitute for myself Comrade Lyadov, who has
plenipotentiary powers from the C.C., and Comrade Sergei Petrovich, member of
the Moscow Committee.

With Social-Democratic greetings.

N. Lenin , Council member

P.S. Re the communication to the C.C., I shall write to the Geneva
agents, who are in charge of all matters during my absence.