Date: 1922-12-11
Source: ru:PSS/v54; en:CW/CW33; en:CW/CW45

Source: PSS, Volume 54

AND A MANDATE TO THE SECRETARY

Moscow, Kremlin, December 11, 1922

Dear Comrade Lazzari!

I thank you for the greeting conveyed to me by Comrade Maffi, and I respond to you from the bottom of my heart in kind.

Unfortunately, due to illness, I was unable to follow your work after the Third Congress of the Communist International. Now, the most delicate task lies ahead. The question of merger has been resolved by the Congress; it is imperative that we lend our most diligent support to this merger. 529. I am confident that all of your authority and the fervor of a veteran, devoted revolutionary will be devoted to the great cause we have set ourselves—namely, the firm and sincere unification of all true revolutionaries.

Letter from V. I. Lenin to K. Lazzari and Mandate to the Secretary – December 11, 1922

Reduced

* Refers to either December 11 or December 12. Ed.

** The words “Unfortunately, I was unable to do so because of illness” were written in V. I. Lenin’s own hand. Ed.

To L. D. Trotsky. December 12, 1922

I place particular reliance on you in the event that Serrati should, perhaps even unwittingly, begin to create obstacles: the distrust rooted in the past is so profound that he must not only be—as is self-evident—as loyal as possible, but also consistently demonstrate this loyalty in every way, and moreover, he must go to great lengths (for he is both shrewd enough and sufficiently flexible) to seek out every possible means of avoiding even the slightest pretext for mistrust on the part of the communists. Unfortunately, illness prevented me from conveying this to Serrati in person.*

I send you best wishes for good health and my warmest greetings. 530.

Lenin

To Fotieva or the duty secretary

Retype it on a typewriter, correcting my French, and return it to me.

Lenin

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First published in 1959.

In the Lenin Collection, Volume XXXVI

Printed from a typed manuscript, revised and supplemented by V. I. Lenin

Translation from French