V. I.

Lenin

99

To:   THE BAKU COMMITTEE OF THE R.S.D.L.P. [1]

Baku , 29/X1.

Dear Friends, We are complying with your request, and are sending a trial consignment
of half a pood of our own literature for the time being, so as not to have
to buy any. If the trial proves successful we shall send you what you ask
for. In addition, we have arranged to send parcels to the address given by
Raisa. [2]

We were very glad to hear about Lenochka. Why does she not write? The
others are none too punctual either. Did you receive our letter of
November 10? [3]

It is increasingly clear that the Council will not allow the congress
to be held on any account. Plekhanov says so quite openly: no congress! At
best the Central Organ throws the committees’ resolutions into the
waste-paper basket or returns them with gross abuse, as was done in the
case of the Nikolayev Committee, which sent in a resolution in favour of
the congress, but not in the form prescribed by the Council, for which the
authors of the resolution were branded as frauds, impostors, forgers of
resolutions.... To compel the Council to call the congress, the
Majority must organise properly, as Lenin wrote in his last letter. Did you
get the Iskra letter to Party members about the Zemstvo campaign?
(See letter to the Mingrelia-Imeretia
Committee.) [4]

Well, that’s all for now. Send material for publication. The Majority
is thinking of publishing its own organ. The hypocritical behaviour of the
Party institutions is impelling it more and more to take this step.

We have received a letter from the Caucasian Union Committee (through
the Editorial Board of the Central Organ), and shall reply shortly.

Greetings, Lenin

P.S. What is happening in Batum? What is the mood there?