Dutch Kautsky or Dutch Trotsky. These people "in principle decisively disagree" with opportunists, while in practice on all important questions — they agree!!

Mme. Roland-Holst rejects the principle of defense of the fatherland, i.e., she rejects social-chauvinism. This is good. But she does not reject opportunism!! In a most lengthy declaration not a word against opportunism! Not a single clear, unambiguous word about revolutionary means of struggle (instead, all the more phrases about "idealism," self-sacrifice, etc., which any scoundrel, including Troelstra and Kautsky, will very readily sign)! Not a word about a break with opportunists! The slogan of "peace" entirely à la Kautsky! Instead of this (and quite consistently from the standpoint of the unprincipled "principled declaration" of Mme. Roland-Holst) — advice to collaborate with the SDP and the SDPR!! This means: unity with opportunists.

Just like our Mr. Trotsky: "in principle decisively against defense of the fatherland," — in practice for unity with the Tsereteli faction in the Russian Duma (i.e., with opponents of our faction, exiled to Siberia, with the best friends of Russian social-chauvinists).

No. No. Never and under no circumstances will we agree in principle with Mme. Roland-Holst's declaration. This is entirely unthought-through, purely platonic and hypocritical internationalism. Pure half-measures. This is suitable (speaking politically) only for forming a "left wing" (i.e., a "harmless minority," a "decorative Marxist ornament") in the old rotten and base lackey parties (in liberal workers' parties).

We do not, of course, demand an immediate split of one or another party, for example, in Sweden, Germany, or France. It is quite possible that somewhat later the moment for this will be (for example, in Germany) more favorable. But in principle we must unconditionally demand a complete break with opportunism. The entire struggle of our party (and of the workers' movement in Europe generally) must be directed against opportunism.

Opportunism is not a tendency, not a trend; it has now become an organized instrument of the bourgeoisie within the workers' movement. And further: questions of revolutionary struggle (tactics, means, propaganda in the army, fraternization in the trenches, etc.) must absolutely be discussed in detail, debated, thought through, verified, and explained to the masses in the illegal press. Without this, every "recognition" of revolution remains merely a phrase. We have no common path with phrase-mongering (in the Dutch manner: "passive") radicals.

I hope, dear comrade Wijnkoop, that you will not be offended by these remarks.

After all, we must come to a proper understanding in order to conduct together this grave struggle.

Please show this letter to comrade Pannekoek and the other Dutch friends.

Yours, N. Lenin

P.S. I will soon send you the official resolution of our party (1913) on the question of the right of all nations to self-determination*. We are for this. Now, in the struggle against social-chauvinists, we must be for this more than ever.

1915

in Zwolle (Holland)

Translated from German

Written after 24 July

Sent from Sörenberg (Switzerland)

First published 21 January 1949 in the newspaper *Pravda* no. 21

Printed from the manuscript