To Clare

Dear friend! The latest news from you greatly pleased me with the plan to sublate* the skin of Lani - it's long, long overdue! But, on the other hand, the letters show that Lani and Vadim have a wrong understanding of our position, and there is no mutual understanding between us. This is very sad (even without taking seriously Vadim's last letter with ultimatum-like advice - Kol will respond to this himself, as I, I repeat, find it difficult to take such things seriously). The co-opting of the demon, the falcon, etc., seems to me to be a mistaken step, for these people are not yet experienced and independent enough. The division of functions is also very dangerous, as it threatens to fragment us. Meanwhile, the committees remain unattended: in Kyiv, they are acting foolishly, and, strangely enough, neither Andreevsky, nor Dyadin, nor Lebedev

* "Sublate the skin" - i.e., to put in an illegal position. Ed.

have entered there to fight. Kharkov, Ekaterinoslav, Don, Gornozavodsky are also in the hands of the rebels*. It is necessary at all costs to occupy positions everywhere with our own people. Even if only one person, fully our own, must be placed in each committee. The Caucasus is beginning to stir**, - help from our own is needed there as well. Is it not more important to place agents in every committee, and then direct all efforts to transport and distribution?

After all, the essence and the strength are in transport, ultimately. We must not be content with one route but have two or three, so that constant disruptions cease.

It is extremely important to issue announcement 248 as soon as possible, precisely in Russia, and to disseminate it everywhere. For heaven's sake, hurry with this and write to us about it as soon as possible and more accurately. Formally, Brutus should be elected to the Soviet and formally, his voice should be transferred to Kol. This is a matter that cannot wait.

In my opinion, it would be of utmost importance to send Lani here for at least a couple of weeks, even for one week. This would give a lot, a lot, to see everything a vol d'oiseau***, to look at the boiling point, to achieve full mutual understanding. Can't 200 rubles and 2-3 weeks be spared for this? Can't a legal foreign passport be found for Lani?? Think about this carefully. I strongly recommend this step, especially convenient in connection with Lani's plans. Really, without fully agreeing, it is difficult to keep in step. And Lani's talk about "moral influence on the old man" shows (I swear, do not be offended!) complete and utter mutual misunderstanding. And why doesn't Lani write anything about this? The plan to co-opt Martov is simply ridiculous; this is such a misunderstanding that it is inevitable that you will end up in a mess and with a scandal. I swear, I cannot even seriously discuss the co-optation of Martov with you, and if you seriously thought about this, we are speaking different languages! We all laughed (and Kol too) to tears over this "plan"!!

* Refers to the Mensheviks. Ed.

** See the letter to the Caucasian Union Committee of the RSDLP (this volume, pp. 310-311). Ed.

*** - from a bird's-eye view. Ed.

Lenin