1. Outline of the Report

1.

(α) Never before have we been so close to a worldwide proletarian revolution, (β) yet never before have we found ourselves in such a perilous position.

2. Ad[39] α Bulgaria

Austria

Germany{210}

A rally of 2,000 people in Paris (and the reading of Sadeul’s letter at the congress{211})

England: Parties{212}

Spain: Greetings{213}.

3. Ad ß: The End of the “Respite.”

There are no two distinct forces—there is but one{214}.

The German bourgeoisie is wavering, but in my view the overarching line remains: an agreement with the Entente against us…

The plan for Ukraine… to withdraw for the benefit of the British…

+ The bourgeoisie of the occupied countries…

4. We have grown stronger—

stronger in our resistance to the European bourgeoisie.

5. Through the Dardanelles and through Romania—toward the South.

5 bis: Ukraine, in particular[40].

6. The turning point in the Red Army is a sign of a fundamental shift in the entire course of history.

7. To increase tenfold{215}… so that we may prepare for summer over the winter.

2. Draft Resolution

1. The successes of the international proletarian revolution have given rise to intensified counterrevolutionary resistance on the part of the international bourgeoisie—and, at its head, the Entente…

2. Germany is striving to secure a direct agreement with the Entente against the proletarian revolution and against Soviet power in Russia; but while a direct accord remains elusive, a portion of the German bourgeoisie seeks to advance this goal indirectly (and not in a formal sense), by rendering services to the Entente and by cultivating favor with it in order to win over regions hostile to the Bolsheviks.

+ And the bourgeoisie of all the occupied territories…

3. This peculiar state of affairs heightens the dangers facing Soviet power; the prospect looms—and is rapidly drawing ever closer—of an Entente offensive against southern Russia via the Dardanelles and the Black Sea, or through Bulgaria and Romania, likely with the calculation that German troops in Ukraine will withdraw (either through a direct or tacit understanding with the German bourgeoisie) only at the moment when British forces arrive—so as to prevent, otherwise inevitable, victory for the Ukrainian workers and peasants and the establishment of a Ukrainian workers’ and peasants’ government.

4. Given this situation, and with the balance between the two warring factions of international imperialism now disrupted—even if only approximately—Soviet power must redouble its efforts to expand the army and strengthen its military capabilities. This must be placed at the forefront of our priorities.

5. This can—and must—be accomplished only through revolutionary means, by rallying the proletarian elements (and the semi-proletarian strata)—for the turning point in the army provides us with the full opportunity to do just that.

All organizations of the proletariat and the poorest peasantry, all Soviet institutions and all available forces must once again be mobilized with renewed vigor for this very purpose.

6. The realization of the tremendous achievements made by Soviet power in Russia—namely, the awakening of sympathy, solidarity, and support among the working masses of Western Europe—must fortify our work and guide it toward the ultimate victory of the international proletarian revolution.

+ Tasks in Ukraine{216}.

Written in October, no later than October 22, 1918.

First published in 1962 in the journal “Questions of the History of the CPSU,” No. 2.

Printed from the manuscript.