V. I.

Lenin

40

To:   V. P. KRASNUKHA AND YELENA STASOVA [1]

A personal letter to Vanya and Varvara Ivanovna. Please hand it
immediately to them alone.

The news of Bouncer’s “victory” has astounded us. [2]
Was the departure of Kasyan and Hairpin really sufficient to deprive the
Iskrists of the ability to act? Bouncer’s protest could lead only to your
proposing to him to put it to the vote and at once declaring by a
majority, firstly, that on the substance of the question he is in an
insignificant minority; and, secondly, that his complaint of violation of the
Rules is ridiculous and petty-fogging (for, according to the Rules, the opinion
should be asked of all who were present in St. Petersburg and the matter not
deferred pending an inquiry of those who were absent).

If Bouncer raised (dared to raise) the question of dissociation, it was
imperative at once to adopt a majority decision for his expulsion from the
Union.

Obviously, Bouncer is brazenly heading “for war” and the Iskrists
will be eternally disgraced if they do not reply to this by the most resolute
and desperate war. Do not be afraid of any threats on the part of Bouncer, you
have nothing to fear from publicity, treat the matter immediately as a war
issue, as we have written above, and adopt the decisions proposed above as
speedily as possible. Even if Bouncer carries still others along with him (even
if only half or less than half of you are left) you should all the same
go the whole hog and demand Bouncer’s expulsion unconditionally, without
being the least afraid of a “split” in the Union.

You should also put an ultimatum to the workers too:
either a split in the Union and war, or a decisive condemnation of Bouncer by
the workers and his expulsion.

We, for our part, are writing at once to 2a3b. We are putting off the
publication of the St. Petersburg statement in
Iskra . [3]

We repeat: the question has now become a point of honour with the
Iskra people of St. Petersburg.... Of course, every thing you do now
must be done at a general meeting, to which Bouncer must be invited and minutes
of the decisions taken. Send us the minutes at once.