# TO AN UNKNOWN ADDRESSEE. SEPTEMBER 5, 1900

are addressed to you"; but it is obvious that we could help the Union only in a literary way, and
it is no less obvious that at the present time, when all our vital juices must go toward nourishing our soon-to-be-born infant*, we cannot undertake the feeding of other people's children.

You write that 1) there are no principled disagreements and that 2) the Union is ready to prove in deed its determination to wage a struggle against the "economist tendency." We are convinced
that you are mistaken on both these points. Our conviction is based on such literary productions as the afterword to the Anti-Credo 42, the reply to the Vademecum**,
No. 6 of Rabocheye Dyelo, the preface to the pamphlet A Turning Point in the Jewish
Labor Movement, and others. We intend to come out in a literary way as well with a refutation
of the opinion that there are no principled disagreements (so that we shall have certain relations with
the Union: relations between polemicists).

Now the last and main thing: are we right or not in discerning in you a "very, very sharp change of views"? Let us recall what happened in Russia: you knew that we wanted to found an independent literary enterprise, you knew that we were for Plekhanov.

Consequently, you knew everything and not only did not decline to participate, but, on the contrary,
yourself used such an expression as "our" enterprise (do you remember our last conversation at your apartment en trois***?), and thereby gave us grounds to expect from you
the closest participation. Now, however, it turns out that you say not a word about participation, that you set us the "task" of "settling the conflict abroad at all costs," i.e., such a
task which we did not undertake and are not undertaking—without, of course, losing hope that the formation by us of an independent enterprise with the collaboration of the Emancipation of Labor group may create the ground for settling the conflict. Now you, apparently, doubt the expediency

* The reference is to the newspaper Iskra.—Ed.

** — Guidebook.—Ed.

*** — as a threesome.—Ed.

of our group creating an independent enterprise, for you write that
it would be harmful to the cause for there to exist two organizations "leaving one another
to act as God puts it into their souls." It seems to us beyond doubt that your views
have sharply changed. We have now set forth to you with complete frankness how our
affair stands, and would be very glad if our exchange of opinions on the question "concerning
the tasks ahead" were not limited to this. Address: Nurnberg, Ph. Rogner.

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First published in 1934

in Lenin Miscellany I

Printed from the manuscript