V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v46; en:CW/CW34;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

November 8, 1903

To Smith

Dear Friend,

I again insistently request you to come, you in particular, and then one or two more from the Central Committee. This is absolutely and immediately necessary. Plekhanov has betrayed us; the bitterness in our camp is terrible; everyone is indignant that because of the squabbles in the League Plekhanov allowed the decisions of the Party Congress to be altered. I have left the Editorial Board* for good. *Iskra* may cease publication. The crisis is complete and terrible.

Bear in mind that I am now fighting not for the Editorial Board of the Central Organ; I am quite reconciled to Plekhanov forming a board of five without me. But I am fighting for the Central Committee, which the Martovites, grown insolent after Plekhanov’s cowardly betrayal, also want to capture, demanding the co-optation of their own people into it without even stating how many!! The fight for the Editorial Board of the Central Organ is irrevocably lost owing to Plekhanov’s betrayal. The only chance for peace: to try to give them the Editorial Board of the Central Organ and to keep the Central Committee for ourselves. This is very difficult (perhaps even this is already too late), but we must try. Smith is absolutely necessary here, and best of all two more Russians from the Central Committee, the most impressive ones (not Damm) (for instance, Boris and the Doctor). Plekhanov threatens to resign if the Central Committee does not give way: for God’s sake, do not believe his threats; he must be pressed hard, frightened. It is necessary that Russia should firmly rise in defence of the Central Committee, after being reassured by the transfer of the Editorial Board of the Central Organ. New people from the Central Committee are needed here, for otherwise there is absolutely no one to conduct negotiations with the Martovites.

Smith is three times necessary. I repeat the “terms” of the Martovites: 1) negotiations in the name of the Editorial Board of the Central Organ and the Central Committee, 2) six on the Editorial Board of the Central Organ, 3) ? on the Central Committee. Suspension of co-optation to the Central Committee, 4) two seats on the Council, 5) disavowal by the Central Committee of its action regarding the League, recognition of the League’s congress as legal. These are the peace terms offered by the victors to the vanquished!!