The notes by V. I. Lenin below on the debates at the sessions of the Party Council are of a similar character to the previously published documents: the diary of the sessions of the II Congress of the R.S.D.L.P., notes on the debates at the II Party Congress ("Lenin Sbornik" VI, documents 7 and 8, pp. 87—144), notes at the first session of the League Congress and notes on Yu. O. Martov's counter-report at the League Congress ("Lenin Sbornik" VII, documents 66 and 68, pp. 137—147 and 153—170).

Externally, this document has the character of a large fragment (without a beginning): the record begins in the middle of the developed debates at the first session of the Council on a resolution submitted by Lenin regarding the question "on measures for restoring good relations and normal conditions in the Party." The external appearance of the beginning of the manuscript (1) a thick hatched line at the beginning of the page, as if separating the following text from something written earlier; 2) the beginning of the record without a paragraph and not with a capital letter) gives grounds for supposing that this manuscript should have preceding pages which have not been preserved.

169.
V. I. LENIN.
* NOTES ON THE DEBATES AT THE SESSIONS
OF THE PARTY COUNCIL JANUARY 28—30, 1904 *

[1st session of the Party Council January 28, Thursday, 1904
Geneva.] "for the elimination of that wall, which has arisen
between the two parts of the Party" 1...

..."most conveniently a collegium composed of those persons who participated least of all in the quarrels" 2... (6.15: Martov)

Plekhanov likes the form, but not the content of my project.

* A preserved envelope with an inscription in V. I. Lenin's hand: "Important documents." Ed.

It is illogical to speak of measures without speaking of causes. Nothing but truisms. What are needed are practical measures. Lenin's proposal is a palliative. And that is not bad 3.

A x e l r o d. Not even a palliative, but a new source of quarrels: they will interpret it in their own way.

6.30 P l e k h a n o v.

The cause of abnormality: the selection of centers by one half of the Party.

It is necessary that the Central Committee also follow the example of the Editorial Board.

"The Council of the Party, regretting the dissensions that now exist in the Party, is deeply convinced that the existence of these dissensions is conditioned by the fact that the Central Committee, by its composition, represents only one part of the Party, and that for their elimination it is necessary to change its composition through cooption of an appropriate number of persons belonging to the so-called minority of the Party Congress or in solidarity with it." 4

M a r t o v:
(6.40)... "To raise comrades from the circle of petty squabbles" ...
Is the destruction of Party institutions permissible?
7.5 Plekhanov: comrade Isar has crossed over...
The majority is worth nothing....
... "Proportional representation"...
| Not from the standpoint
| of law, but from the standpoint of politics.
"Not to such a degree" ... the Editorial Board's edition.... one-sided...

Axelrod: attacks the split, about which I.... I speak too much... We only advise.

M a r t o v: 1) there is no unwillingness to work in one Party. The minority categorically declares this

NOTES ON THE DEBATES AT THE SESSIONS OF THE PARTY COUNCIL

2) Rue's departure is not a courtesy. The rights of the Editorial Board could not have been limited (or revoked).

We can advise, express desires and even resolutions (not legal, but moral) concerning articles in the Editorial Board. Plekhanov's proposal was submitted by him personally, not by the Editorial Board, and I would formulate it quite differently. I will even submit amendments and reservations without fail...

I would welcome an indication of the desirability of changing the composition of the Central Committee.

In spirit, Plekhanov's proposal corresponds to the desire of the Editorial Board.

Facts from the policy of the Central Committee hinder... peaceful work.

[Distrust is not equivalent to unwillingness to work together, I emphasize this.]

The Central Committee has become an instrument of war by one side against the other...

Distrust of the Central Committee hinders more than distrust of the Editorial Board (in positive work).

The center of disorder is not abroad, but in Russia.

In principle, the Central Committee (25 XI) also recognized the one-sidedness of its composition.......

Plekhanov does not agree with me on a single word.

He is here the 5th member, and this is not a negotiation between the Editorial Board and the Central Committee here. 5

F r i d a y. [2nd session of the Party Council January 29, 1904]
4.7.

P l e k h a n o v. For proportional representation: it is not true that any elections always violate the rights of the minority.
The majority was insignificant.

To think formalistically rather than to look at the root of things—the matter developed in such a way that it is worse than unlawful.

L e n i n.
M a r t o v.
4.50.

Comrade Lenin has returned to polemics and the former war.

ZZ—

The Editorial Board did not have declarations that unelected members of the editorial board would leave it.

U Hans declared that the admission to the editorial board of 3 persons can only be welcomed.
))

Martov would consider it politically inexpedient for a declaration of the Central Committee about the departure of three from the editorial board.

It is not true that they were excluded over the course of 3 months from Party work: we requested a literary group.

A reproach to the committees that they did not engage in positive work.

We do not now have centralized Party activity: there is no publication of literature by the Central Committee.

Lenin's resolution would make the Soviet an instrument of war by one side.

V a s i l i e v: Poses questions to Plekhanov.

A x e l r o d. We are concluding for the repose of souls.

It is necessary to solve the question fundamentally: to establish peace and unity.
"Pastoral message":
b e k i n d.
"No agreement is possible".

.... Distrust, split and complete demoralization.......
... Responsibility before history....

M a r t o v:
Letter of 12 XII: in Russia is hell: thus everything is not from abroad"
It is "legitimate" for the existence of groups of "marsh men":... are they not full members, or what?

"to introduce representatives of the minority of the Congress"...
IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.

Where to find them?

He knows where to find them if he wants to come as a comrade.

P l e k h a n o v: Proportional representation has pure theoretical significance
"When in a given legislation proportionality is recognized
— —"
It doesn't exist, but generally sometimes deviates.

The Central Committee is an eccentric committee
From the standpoint of the regulations it is undoubtedly legal.
|| An extremely abnormal state of affairs in the Party. ||
It can only be called a Central Committee as a euphemism 6.

A homeopathic message * was called forth by an allopathic evil...

It is not comradely to find that I stand in the marsh....
I used it at the Congress in the corridors, but here it is not appropriate (insulting).

Appropriate number — through mutual discussion....
* In the manuscript—a slip; written: "sent," but according to the sense and judging
by the record of this place in Plekhanov's speech in the Council protocols (above, docu-
ment 168, p. 221), it should read: "message." Ed.

5.50 M a r t o v.

The Editorial Board protested against anarchy in the Central Committee—is this a private communication... "An unpleasant episode" 7...
Hans declared to me that he considers it necessary to bring cooption to completion
Hans did not consider reconciliation finished.

The text of the proclamation—highlights only accusations of the minority. Formally—on both sides, but in essence accuses one side.

Lenin answers evasively to Plekhanov's proposal.
The answer of the Central Committee, represented here, yes or no...
Policy is fixed [by the Congress] by the composition of the Central Committee 8
The convocation of a Congress—recognition of the incapacity of the Central Committee.
[It is difficult to convoke a Congress.] 8 "Schachermacher policy" has been withdrawn 9.

Does not know more flexible means......
If not to fear the Party Congress
10 This is the ultima ratio.
The Council has no right to convoke the Congress. The Council only technically determines the conditions of the Congress.

6.00 P l e k h a n o v.
The Marsh is an "insulting" form of "the middle"...
The part of the Party officially named "the Marsh."

The position of the Editorial Board is also supposedly abnormal,—recognition of the normality of the Central Committee??
Hans (declared to me) will not consider the composition of the Editorial Board abnormal.

Comrade Lenin did not convince me that Hans did not conduct negotiations with me.

|| While Plekhanov is there, we are at ease (so Lenin supposedly declared) 11.
Axelrod would consider [this] insulting.

L e n i n.
> 1/2 hour.

Axelrod refused 12.
M a r t o v, (is crossed out) 13.

[Lenin]
[M a r t o v] recorded 14.

P l e k h a n o v. In Germany they say "Sumpf," but in a different sense.
On the question of documents. Negotiations were conducted without documents. Were they conducted at all?

D i d h e s a y he was at ease while I was there. (Anecdote with Louis Philippe: let us see whom France will believe.)

Is cooption into the Central Committee parallel to removal from the Editorial Board?
It did not have an effect on the very author, who

Comrade Lenin did not conduct negotiations about concessions; he only said: "obey and [do not] * reason!"

M a r t o v.

"Hans occupied exactly the same position that he occupied in the Council" (Hans's letter to Martov also, approximately, around 18 XII).

In the ultimatum (25 XI) there were not concessions, but threats (a seizure was supposedly supposed)—that is why they did not speak further of measures of concessions
| If I left in the interests of peace, then why now must they leave for peace?
29 I 04: 15

S a t u r d a y. (3rd session) [January 30, 1904]

Restriction of speakers' speeches......
Martov proposes expressing censure of us for accusing the Council...
Lenin declares that there are no accusations here.
Martov declares that there was an accusation.

Martov against the Congress:
"vexing and unpleasant character" of relations is caused by the lack of clarity of principled disagreements.

* In the manuscript—a slip; the negation "not" is omitted, which we restore here. Ed.

Lenin Sbornik X.

— the central institutions proved incapable of resolving these questions.

Crisis in the Party......
To suppress the illumination of principled disagreements (similar to the working week movement's striving to convoke a Congress)....

"Tremendous preparatory work" was required for the II Congress......

Not to approach the Congress formalistically... There are no forces or means to convoke a Congress.

"Specific atmosphere of political disorder": absence of confidence.

!
It is difficult to convoke in such a way that no one disputes its legality.

"To suspend the process of demarcation"... * 17
The knot was tangled mainly by the centers.

5.05. Plekhanov—will lead to a split...
5.08 Martov for Plekhanov.

Threaten with a state coup, and the Editorial Board is not confident.........
they removed part of addresses
| Correctness of relations of the Editorial Board with the committees.
The committees are burdened with the obligation to correspond with the Foreign Committee, which began war against the Editorial Board.

Struggle against the legend that Lenin was ousted from the Editorial Board, driven out.

[Martov:]

A x e l r o d. M a r t o v. (7 p.m. break) 18.*

* On the back of the last sheet of the document, in Lenin's hand in blue pencil is written the address: Mr. Volkoff. Hotel de l'Ours. 23 (Place du Cirque) (23). Ed.

NOTES ON THE DEBATES AT THE SESSIONS OF THE PARTY COUNCIL

1 This is an expression of Martov's, used by him in one of the first two of his speeches in the debates on Lenin's draft resolution—proclamation, but not recorded in the protocols (above, p. 187 and p. 190). The attribution of this expression to Martov is confirmed by Lenin's indication in his subsequent speech: "...the disease that has to be treated is indeed chronic, because, as comrade Martov puts it, a solid wall has indeed grown up between both parts of the Party" (above, p. 193).

2 This note also reproduces Martov's words, which end his second speech in the debates on the first question of the Council's agenda (above, p. 191).

3 In these three paragraphs, beginning with the words: "Plekhanov likes the form" and ending with the words: "And that is not bad," the basic ideas of Plekhanov's statement following the speech by Martov noted above are recorded (see above, p. 191—192).

4 The full text of Plekhanov's resolution, which he read at the end of his statement noted here, following the speeches of Axelrod and Lenin, is recorded in the box (see above, p. 194—195).

5 The notes in the box convey the content of Plekhanov's brief statement before the closing of the first session of the Council on January 28 (see above, p. 205).

6 The note: "It can only be called a Central Committee as a euphemism" conveys an expression from Plekhanov's speech that did not make it into the protocol (above, p. 220—223).

7 The expression: "An unpleasant episode," apparently used by Martov in his speech regarding the protest of the Editorial Board of December 22, 1903, did not make it into the protocol (see above, p. 227).

8 The notes: "The answer of the Central Committee, represented here, yes or no..." "Policy is fixed [by the Congress] by the composition of the Central Committee" "[It is difficult to convoke a Congress]"—fix passages from Martov's speech that did not make it into the protocol (see above, p. 227—228).

9 This remark by Lenin refers to Martov's expression: "Schachermacher policy," used by him in reference to the Central Committee. Martov withdrew this expression and later in the protocol record of his speech personally corrected it to: "Scharfmacher policy" (see above, p. 228).

10 The note: "If not to fear the Party Congress" represents either Lenin's own passing remark concerning the corresponding place in Martov's speech, or a reproduction of Martov's expression. But in the protocol record of Martov's speech there is no corresponding place (see there).

11 The note in parentheses: "(so Lenin supposedly declared)," apparently conveys the words of G. M. Krzhizhanovsky cited by Plekhanov in his speech, but not recorded in the protocol (see above, p. 230).

12 This and the two notes below refer to the moment when Plekhanov, after Lenin's speech, proposed closing the list of speakers on this question. Apparently, Axelrod refused his turn, already being recorded on the list. This fact is not noted in the protocols (see above, p. 236).

13 This note refers to the place in the dialogue of three (Plekhanov—Lenin—Martov) on the question of the order in which the last speakers were recorded in the closing list, where Martov, who stood first in the list (before Plekhanov), after Lenin's statement: "I request to be recorded not last, but after comrade Plekhanov"—said: "In that case I request to be recorded after comrade Lenin" and thereby refused his turn before Plekhanov (see there).

14 This note marks the adopted order of the last speeches on this question: after Plekhanov—Lenin and Martov.

15 The noted date refers to the preceding record of debates at the second session of the Council.

16 This note marks a place from Martov's speech that did not make it into the protocol (see above, p. 254—257).

17 The words in quotation marks and underlined in the manuscript apparently belonged to Martov, but there is no such exact expression in his speech in the protocol. This record approximately corresponds to the following place from Martov's speech found in the protocol record: "I believe that the Congress can only sum up an already completed process of development and liquidate a completed period" (see above, p. 255).

18 This last note marks a brief statement by Axelrod before the first proclamation of resolutions by Lenin and Martov on the questions of practical relations between the Editorial Board and the Central Committee (see above, p. 271), some statement (judging from the protocols, it is difficult to say which one) by Martov at the same moment and a break in the session, which is not noted in the protocol. One can suppose that the break was made before the vote on the resolutions.