V. I.

Lenin

85

To:   THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE R.S.D.L.P.

December 22, 19O3

To the Central Committee from Lenin, member of the
C.C.

I have read the C.C.’s announcement circulated to the committees, [2]
and can only shrug my shoulders. A more ridiculous misunderstanding I cannot
imagine. Hans has been cruelly punished by this for his credulity and impressionability. Let him explain to me, in the name of all that’s holy, where
he gets the temerity to speak in such an unctuous tone about peace when the
opposition (Martov included) has formally rejected peace in the reply
to the Central Committee’s ultimatum? Is it not childishness, after this
formal rejection of peace, to believe the chatter of Martov who, firstly, does
not remember today what he said yesterday and, secondly, cannot answer for the
whole opposition? Is it not naïve to speak and write about peace when the
opposition is on the war-path again, is clamouring at meetings in Geneva that it
is a force, and is beginning a mean persecution in Iskra No. 53? And
to tell a down right lie to the committees!—for example, that the conflict
with the League is “completely at an end”? To keep silent about the first
Council (with Ru)?

Finally, this silly advice that I should go away from here! I could understand
if it has been given by members of the family or relatives, but for such piffle
to be written by the Central Committee! Yes, it is now that the literary war
begins. No. 53 and my letter, published in leaflet form, [1] will demonstrate that
for you.

I am so angry at your announcement to the committees that for the moment
I cannot think how you are to be extricated from a ludicrous
situation, unless it is by declaring that the contents of Iskra
No. 53, and especially the article “Our Congress”, have destroyed
all your faith in the possibility of peace. Personally, I see no other way out.

Reply to the committees (and to Martov himself) that the disgracefully false
article “Our Congress” has provoked a polemic in the press, but
that you (the C.C.) will try to carry out positive work. Plekhanov was against
the article “Our Congress” and against Martov delivering a public
lecture.