V. I.

Lenin

On the Subject of Reports by Committees and Groups of the R.S.D.L.P. to the General Party Congress [2]

Oneof the members of the Organising Committee has asked me to send a list
of questions to which it would be desirable to have replies given in the
reports of the committees and groups of our Party at its Second
Congress. I enclose herewith an approximate list of such questions, but
first I should like to say a few words about the length of this
list. Naturally, it would be desirable to have reports on
all branches of Social-Democratic work, and the ideal report
would therefore embrace an all but endless number of questions. Of course,
we cannot even dream of it being possible to present such full
reports. Nevertheless, I consider it very important and essential for the
Organising Committee to endeavour to acquaint each committee or group with
the complete range of questions of interest to (and needed by)
the congress. Our Second Congress will have an even more
constituent character than the First, and we must therefore bend
every effort towards making the reports as complete and substantial as
possible. The closer each group’s report approximates to the
ideal, the more completely and exactly will the movement as a whole be
represented at our congress, and the more enduring the results of the
congress.

Thepreparation of the reports, their discussions both in the committees
and groups, etc., should begin as much as possible prior to the
congress. In this connection it would be extremely important for the
committees and groups, first, to divide among many of their members the
work of drawing up the report; secondly, as soon as each section of the report is ready the committees and groups should
immediately forward a copy of it abroad, i.e., to a safe place
(without waiting for the complete report); thirdly, they should
make a point of drawing into this work not only actual but also former
members, and not only the active but also absent members, in other words,
those in exile or abroad. These persons could be instructed to prepare
reports covering either a definite group of questions or a definite period
when they worked in the committee or group. Such reports, or sections of
reports, could greatly facilitate the task of the delegates at the
congress. It stands to reason, furthermore, that the delegates should also
make use of Party literature which contains numerous answers to questions
in any report, i.e., they should try to gather all this literature, make a
digest of all that is essential in it, correct any mistakes occurring in
it, supplement it, adding whatever could not be printed for reasons of
secrecy, etc. (it is also of the utmost importance to enlist for this work
the co-operation of former members of committees and groups who are
temporarily abroad). Incidentally, with regard to secrecy it should be
added that there are certain questions to which written answers cannot and
should not be given, for that would be disclosing secrets; nevertheless,
the answers to these questions must positively be considered, prepared,
and discussed by the committees and groups, for at the Party congress it
will be obligatory to report on these questions (if not in pleno , then to a special commission, to the C.C., etc.).

Witha view to drawing as many people as possible into the work of
drafting the reports, it would be desirable to circulate the list
of questions itself (together with the amendments recommended by
specific committees, groups or individual comrades) as widely as possible ; moreover, only the fact that these questions and reports
are intended for the Second Party Congress should be kept secret from the
broad circles of Social-Democrats.

Finally,there arises the question of the period to be covered by the
reports. Formally speaking, it should be the period between the First and
Second Congresses, i.e., from 1898 to 1903. However, since the First
Congress was not fully representative, lasted too short a time, and was
held under extremely unfavourable circumstances, it would be desirable that the reports should also cover the period preceding
1898.

Itwould perhaps not be superfluous to make the reservation that this
extremely detailed list of questions for the report should by no means be
interpreted to imply that the person who is best acquainted with the
history of the movement, or, in general, who is best able to answer all
these questions, will make the best delegate to the congress. The congress
should be of practical value in uniting the movement and giving it a
powerful impulse, and those comrades who, even if they are new, are the
most energetic, influential, and devoted to revolutionary work will make
the best delegates. The reports, however, can be compiled from the
contributions of many people and, in addition, in some cases it will
perhaps be possible to delegate more than one person; it would be
particularly desirable to give a large number of worker delegates
the opportunity of attending the congress.

Ishall now proceed to give the list of questions, which are divided up
into eight sections or groups (the division of specific questions and even
of groups of questions is often artificial and has been made only for
convenience in reviewing them, as all questions are most closely
interconnected).

I. The Working-Class Movement, its History and Present State

1)A brief description of the conditions and state of industry. Number,
composition, distribution, and other specific features of the local
proletariat (industrial, commercial, handicraft, etc., possibly
agricultural also).

2)To what extent are the workers affected by socialist agitation? In what
districts? Factories? Domestic industry, etc. Describe in as great detail
as possible the growth of this group of workers from the very outset of
the movement.

3)As complete a list as possible of strikes and a detailed account of
each more or less big strike. Aggregate figures are desirable.

4) Have there been any outstanding instances of boycotts or other collective action, [1] besides strikes, on the part of the workers? Give details.

5) What workers’ circles have existed and still exist? Mutual aid
societies? Self-education societies? Working-class organisations? Trade
unions? Fullest possible description of all such associations, their
organisation, predominant composition, membership, period of existence,
nature of activities, results of experience in this respect, etc.

6) Have any attempts been made to organise legal workers’ societies?
Detailed information about each such at tempt, its results, effect, fate,
present condition, and importance. The same with regard to Zubatov
societies. Have any attempts been made to utilise legal societies for
Social-Democratic purposes?

7) Effect of the present crisis? Description of it, primarily on the basis
of information given by workers. The unemployed, their mood, agitation
among them, etc.

II. History of the Local Socialist Circles, Appearance of the Social-Democrats, Struggle of Trends Within Them

8) Were there any traces of the old socialist organisations when
Social-Democracy appeared? What did they consist of and how did they make
themselves felt? When did propaganda and agitation begin among the working
class, and who started it? The followers of the Narodnaya Volya? What was
their attitude towards Social-Democracy?

9) When and under what circumstances did individual Social-Democrats or
Social-Democratic circles make their appearance? Give, in as much detail
as possible, a description of each circle (in accordance with its
programme), its importance and influence on subsequent circles.

10) How did Social-Democratic views take shape and develop in the local
circles? What was the influence of other (towns) places? Of literature
from abroad? Of legally published Marxist literature (and the literature
of the “critics of Marxism”)? Describe the influence of the first, second and third
factors as fully as possible.

11) Differences within the Social-Democratic movement. Did they exist
before the appearance of the Manifesto of 1898? How did they express
themselves? Have any documents remained? How was the Manifesto received?
What protests or dissatisfaction did it arouse and from whom? How did the
so-called “economist” views arise? How did they develop and
spread? It is very important to describe this most accurately, using all
available documentary material, with regard to every “economist” “phase” in the local movement. How did
differences in the appraisal of the various Party papers and in the
struggle among their adherents express themselves? Of Rabochaya Gazeta [3]
(1897),

Rabotnik , [4] published abroad, and its Listok , of Babochaya Mysl, Rabocheye Dyelo, Iskra, Zarya, Borba, Zhizn , [5]
etc., etc.?

11 bis ) Have there been any splits and conflicts between
workers and the “intelligentsia” among Social-Democrats? It is
very important to ascertain the causes and influence of such.

12) How has the struggle of trends been waged in the local circles? Only
among the Social-Democratic intellectuals? Or among the workers too? Among
the adherent student groups? Has it found expression in splits? In the
organisation of separate groups? Has it flared up over general questions
of principle? Over the contents of the leaflets? Over the question of
demonstrations? Over the attitude to wards the student movement? Over the
question of the May Day demands?

Describein detail the course and consequences of the struggle among the
trends, and the present state of affairs in this respect.

III. Organisation of the Local Committee, Local Groups and Circles

13) Predominant composition of the committee ( resp. of the group,
circle, and, if there are many, of each specific one)? Students?
Workers? Are members added by election (and how is this done?), or
otherwise? Are there separate intellectuals’ and workers’ committees? Special technical, propagandist, agitational
groups? Literary, central, district, local, executive groups? Their
relationships according to the “Rules” (if such exist) and in
actual practice? General meetings, their functions, frequency, and size?
Organisation of contacts with other towns and abroad (i.e., special
people, groups or persons outside the groups, etc.)? How is the
distribution of literature organised? Organisation of tours?

Whatare the conclusions to be drawn from experience in organisational
matters, and the prevailing views on organisational principles in the
committees, among the intellectuals and the workers?

Itis particularly important to give a detailed explanation of the causes
and effects of the formation of separate intellectuals’ and
workers’ (factory, artisan, etc.) committees.

14) Extension of work to nearby and other localities? What form has this
taken: organised or sporadic? Have attempts been made to form
district organisations or to participate in them?

Characterof contacts with other localities.

Historyof the origin and work of district organisations. Composition of
central district committee? Attitude towards local committees? Collection
of funds? District treasuries? Repositories for literature? Effect of the
district organisations upon the scope of the work, its stability, contact
with the local committees, etc.

15) Finances of the committee? Statement of aggregate income and
expenditure (based on reports, if any) for the entire period of existence?
Ordinary and average budget, nature of its sources,collections raised
among workers, levies on members, payment for literature, socials,
donations, etc. (influence of Osvobozhdeniye and
Socialist-Revolutionaries in this respect).

Amountand character of expenditure: technical aspects? maintenance of
people? travelling expenses? etc.

IV. Character, Content, and Scope of Local Work

16) Propaganda. Composition (of the circles) of propagandists? Their
number, method of action? Do they include workers? Do students
predominate? Do more experienced comrades examine and direct their activities? Usual programmes of
lectures, and how these are modified in the course of time? Workers’
response and requests for definite subjects? Is it a practice to send
speakers with good lectures to various towns, districts, etc.? Composition
and size, frequency and circumstances of lecture meetings?

17) Economic agitation. When did issue of leaflets begin? Is it possible
to give the total number of leaflets issued and in how many copies?
(Approximately?) What districts, factories, and trades has this agitation
involved? The procedure adopted in drawing up and approving leaflets?
Participation of workers in this? Technique of publication and
distribution? Do workers act as distributors? To what extent is
the demand for leaflets met?

18) Political agitation. Transition from economic agitation? When did it
begin? Has it evoked any protests? When were the first political leaflets
issued? Was there a time when only economic leaflets were
issued? How is political agitation carried out and on what pretexts?
Describe as fully as possible its expansion both as to the nature of the
leaflets and as to the sphere of distribution. Documentary material is
desirable, since it is important to know all instances of
political agitation and all its spheres. Has it been conducted only among
workers or among other classes as well (cf. below)? Methods and procedure
in drawing up leaflets, demand for them, and extent to which this demand
is met? Which are more needed, local or general leaflets?

19) Literature. What illegal publications are distributed? Enumerate them,
stating how widely they are distributed, the attitude of the committee and
the workers ( resp. of the public in general) towards each publication (pamphlets, etc.). Time of distribution, demand,
among which sections, chiefly for what literature?

Distributedor scattered? Collective reading in circles? What items have
required explanation by intellectuals? Is interpretative reading widely
practised? Of what works specifically?

20) Local and general Party press. History of the local paper. How
frequently issued? Number of copies? How has the literary end been
organised? Collection and safekeeping (loss?) of material? Organisation
of contributions to the local and general Party organs? Are there special literary groups?
Reporters? Contacts with literary people? How are contributions forwarded?
Through the committee? Through private persons and to what extent?
Attempts to utilise students? Exiles?

Conclusionsand inquiries about the papers.

21) May Day rallies. Account of each May Day rally and lessons for the
future.

22) Demonstrations. Summary information on each demonstration. Attempts to
organise in general? To offer resistance in particular? To arm? Views of
workers and of “practicians” in general on this question?

Supplementingand checking of Party literature on demonstrations.

Presentattitude towards this question.

V. Attitude Towards Revolutionary (Especially Social-Democratic) Groups of Other Races and Nationalities

23) Are there any workers of other nationalities and races? Work among
these? Organised or sporadic? In what languages? Attitude towards
Social-Democratic groups working in same locality and using some other
language? A precise and detailed account of these relations is
desirable. Are there differences of opinion? On question of principle as
to the national programme? On tactics? On organisation? Relations
desirable for joint work. Possibility of a single Party organ? Is
federation desirable, and of what type?

VI. Print-Shops, Transport, and Arrangements for Secret Work

24) Print-shops. Experience in establishing them. Expenditure of money and
forces. Productivity. Need for local print-shops (for leaflets?) and
general print-shops for many towns? Technical, organisational, financial,
and secrecy arrangements for this work.

25) Transport. Have there been contacts in this field? Transport groups?
History of each and detailed information on arrangements, functioning, results, and prospects. Desirable form of
organisation.

26) Arrangements for secret work. Secret quarters? Signals? Underground
quarters? Procurement of passports? Experience in this respect? Are there
necessary contacts for this?

Arrangementof rendezvous?

Shadowingof spies? The struggle against spies and agents provocateurs? Its forms, previous and desirable?

Codes,correspondence between towns, within the town, with abroad?

Lectureson: “How to behave at police interrogations?” Need for
pamphlets on this and other subjects?

Committeerecords? Have there been such and have they been kept in the
past? At present?

VII. Contacts and Activity Among Sections of the Population Outside the Working Class

27) Work among the peasantry? Are there individual contacts? Detailed
information about such? How are contacts made and maintained, and with
what peasants? With agricultural workers? Role of factory workers who go
to the villages?

Attemptsat propaganda? Distribution of pamphlets? Leaflets? What kind?
How successful?

Existingsituation and prospects.

28) Students. Is influence sporadic and personal, or or ganised? Have many
Social-Democrats come from the midst of the students? Are there any
contacts with students’ circles, fraternities, union councils? How are
these contacts main tained? Lectures? Distribution of literature?
Prevalent mood among students and the history of changes in various moods.

Attitudetowards student disturbances?

Students’participation in demonstrations? Attempts to reach preliminary
agreement in this respect?

Studentsas propagandists, their training for this work?

29) Secondary schools, Gymnasia, theological seminaries, etc., commercial
and business schools? Nature of contacts with pupils? Attitude towards new
phase of upsurge in movement among them? Attempts to organise circles and study courses? Have recruits
to the Social-Democratic movement been made (and how often) amopg recent
Gymnasium grad uates (or pupils)? Circles, lectures? Distribution of lit
erature?

30) Contacts with “society”? In the past and today, and among what
sections? Based on money collections? Distribution of literature? For
organisation of legal libraries? To collect information and
correspondence? Changes in the attitude of “society” towards
Social-Democrats. Demand for Social-Democratic literature? Contacts among
civil servants? Among postal, telegraph, and railway em ployees? Among
factory inspectors? Among police employees? Among the clergy? Etc.?

Itis likewise desirable to have an account of the experience of
individual committee members in establishing personal contacts among
various sections.

31) Contacts with the military? Part played by Social-Democratic
intellectuals and workers who have completed military service? Contacts
among commissioned and non commissioned officers? How are these contacts
maintained and utilised? Importance of these contacts in agitation,
propaganda, organisation, etc.

Itis desirable that particularly detailed information be given on this
question and the preceding, since the problem is a new one and numerous
isolated measures have to be summed up and collated.

VIII. State of the Non-Social-Democratic Revolutionary and Opposition Trends and Attitude Towards Them

32) Liberal trends. Liberal-Narodnik. Among the public? Among the
students? Osvobozhdeniye , its circulation (among students? among
workers?) and its influence? Are there any Osvobozhdeniye
circles? Their attitude towards the Social Democrats?

Interestin Osvobozhdeniye among Social-Democratic circles and
attitude towards this publication. Is it utilised for propaganda and
agitation?

Generalmeetings with debates?

33) Socialist-Revolutionaries. Detailed account of their appearance in the
given locality? When? From the

N. V. [ Narodnaya Volya.– Ed. ]?

Their change into the Socialist-Revolutionaries? Influence of
“economism”? Character and composition of their contacts and
circles? Veterans? Students? Workers? The struggle against the
Social-Democrats, its course, and how conducted?

Unitedgroups of Social-Democrats and Socialist-Revolutionaries. Their
detailed history, data on their work, leaflets , resolutions of groups, and so on.

Specialfeatures of weakness or strength of the Socialist-
Revolutionaries? Inclination towards terrorism? Among students? Among
workers?

Workof the Socialist-Revolutionaries among the peasantry? Character of
their contacts and activities there? Influence of their “agrarian
programme”?

34) Other groups and trends. The Svoboda group, Workers’ Party
for the Political Liberation of Russia, Makhayevists, [6]
Rabocheye Znamya -ists, etc. An account of their views, attitude
towards Social-Democracy, information about their contacts and work.

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Notes:
[1]
Collective statements? Public meetings? Participation in public
manifestations? etc.
— Lenin

[2]
Lenin’s work On the Subject of Reports by Committees and Groups of the R.S.D.L.P. to the General Party Congress was published in the