V. I. Lenin

R.S.D.L.P. Council . {1} January 15-17 (28-30), 1904

JANUARY 15–17 (28–30), 1904

1

REMARK ON A POINT OF ORDER

JANUARY 15 (28)

Le nin raises a point of order and, when given the floor, motions a discussion of
the question of the measures which could help to restore peace in the Party
and normal relations between members of the Party who do not see eye to
eye.

| First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections) | |

2

REMARKS ON THE AGENDA

JANUARY 10 (29)

1

Le nin insists that his resolution should be put to the vote
first {2} and refers to the existing custom giving voting priority to the
resolution which was motioned earlier.

2

Theright of introducing minority opinions has always been
recognised as a part of the order of business. Comrade Martov made an
attempt to separate the general from the particular. {3} I quite agree with this, but I merely give a somewhat
different wording to his proposal.

| First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections) | |

3

SPEECH MOTIONING A DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE IN
THE PARTY

JANUARY 16 (29)

Le nin ( reads out his resolution ): “To establish peace in the Party and
normal relations between differing members of the Party there is need for
the Party Council to explain which forms of the internal Party struggle are
correct and admissible and which are incorrect and inadmissible.”

| Published in 1904 in the pamphlet, N. Shakhov, Borba za syezd (Struggle for the Congress), Geneva | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes verified with the original | |

4

SPEECH CONCERNING THE MINORITY OPINION ENTERED BY THE
C. C. REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 17 (30)

Arule has been established in the practice of all congresses in virtue of which those voting have the right to record their
minority opinions. Of course, every minority opinion is essentially a kind
of criticism. But this circumstance did not, after all, prevent the entry
at the Second Congress of a minority opinion issued by the Bund
representatives, an opinion which was the sharpest kind of criticism
levelled at the decision adopted by the Congress. Our minority opinion sets
out the motives for which we opposed Comrade Plekhanov’s proposal and in
general our attitude to this proposal. It is the more necessary to read out
this minority opinion because at the end of it there is a motivated
statement to the effect that we withdraw our resolution.

| First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections) | |

5

SPEECH IN DEFENCE OF THE MINORITY OPINION OF THE C. C. REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 17 (30)

Iresolutely protest against the idea that our minority opinion contained any accusations levelled at the Council. Such an
interpretation is entirely wrong and Comrade Martov’s attempt is an
encroachment on our freedom of expression; his resolution is therefore
unwarranted. {4}

| First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections) | |

6

REMARK ON THE AGENDA

JANUARY 17 (30)

Therepresentatives of the C.C. would like to move several other small
points for discussion, but I request that the question of convening a Party
congress should be placed on the order paper beforehand.

| First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections) | |

7

DRAFT RESOLUTION MOVED ON JANUARY 17 (30)

The Party Council considers it improper for the representatives of the C.O. Editorial Board to communicate to the Secretary
of the C.O. Comrade Vasilyev’s opinion of him, because this opinion was
submitted to the members of the Council only, being a part of the meetings
within the Party’s supreme body.

| First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections) | |