To Claire and Boris from the Old Man

Dear friends! Kurts writes to you about yesterday's meeting of the 246. There is no, absolutely no hope for peace any longer. You have no idea, not even a tenth, of the outrages to which the Martovites have resorted here, poisoning the whole emigration with gossip, disrupting connections, funds, literary materials, etc. War has been declared, and they (Lyuba, Kostya, Yerema) are already leaving to wage war in Russia. Prepare for the most legal but desperate struggle.

It is absolutely necessary to place our people in all committees without exception. Special attention must be paid to Kharkov, Yekaterinoslav and Rostov. Is it true that the Kiev committee adopted a resolution for the minority? Is that possible? Why did we not know earlier?

I would very, very strongly advise you to co-opt Konyaga and Ignat. You will soon see and get to know the former. As for the latter, I will say: in war he is, by God, useful and necessary; he will be fully obedient; he can be removed from unsuitable functions; many groundless rumours circulate about him; there is no need to fear that he will co-opt God knows who, because Kurts will be here for a while and we will keep an eye on him. I repeat: I strongly advise taking Ignat, but, of course, this is entirely your affair, and I extracted from Ignat a solemn promise to obey the authorities fully (having confessed to him that he must be prepared even for his non-co-optation).

For God's sake, set up the bureau properly so that we receive letters from you every week.

I would even more earnestly ask you to put Brutus in an illegal position: it is not worth perishing cheaply. Let him travel around everywhere and to everyone in 2-3 months, and then come here to replace Kurts.

Really, this step is necessary. Have seen Lebedev. Ruben is also here.

Gurvich and Khinchuk are Martovites.

Hasten with a reply concerning the Council: it is necessary to formally appoint immediately another member from you and transfer your vote to Kurts. Please do not delay.

Written October 5, 1903

Sent from Geneva to Kiev

First published in 1927

in the Lenin Miscellany VI

Printed from the manuscript