V. I.

Lenin

59

To:   G. M. KRZHIZHANOVSKY ( The Old Man.)

There is little I can tell you this time. The main thing now, in my opinion, is
to make every effort to expedite the Congress and ensure a majority of
intelligent (and “our”) delegates. Almost all our hope is on
Brutus. As far as possible, he should himself keep an eye on everything , especially the delegates, and try to get the maximum number of
our people appointed. The system of two votes from each committee is very
favourable for this. Next, the question of the Bund is very important. We have
stopped the polemic with it over the O.C., but not, of course, the polemic over
principles. That is out of the question. We must make everyone understand,
simply “ram it into every head”, that it is necessary to prepare
for war against the Bund if we want peace with it. War at the Congress, war even
to the extent of a split—whatever the cost. Only then will the Bund be
sure to surrender. We absolutely cannot accept, and never will accept, the
stupid idea of federation. At the very most—autonomy according to the old
Rules of 1898 with a delegate appointed by the C.C. taking part in the C.C. of
the Bund. We must prepare our people, we must explain the stupidity and
demonstrate the absurdity of the attack on
Ekaterinoslav, [1] and so on. Please write speedily and let us know what the feeling is in this respect,
how your propaganda is going and whether there is any hope of the majority
taking the right stand. We should like to issue a pamphlet to the Jewish workers
on the necessity of a close union and the stupidity of federation and
“national” policy.