The urgent task is to convene a meeting of the resolutions from the 11th and 12th committees regarding the congress, and to immediately channel all available energies into campaigning for the congress. Alternatively, the entire Central Committee must resign—no member of the Central Committee will consent to play the shameful, laughable role of merely rubber-stamping self‑proclaimed figures who will never rest until they have seized control of every aspect of the organization, dragging even the most trivial matters before the Soviets in order to advance their own agenda.

Kurz and I are pressing the Central Committee to convene without delay, come what may, and to resolve the matter once and for all—naturally taking our votes into account. We reiterate, for the hundredth time: either the congress must be held forthwith, or the entire Central Committee must resign. We invite those who disagree with us to come here and judge the situation firsthand. Let them try, in practice, to coexist with the Marchists—rather than filling us with empty platitudes about the “benefits of peace”!

We are short of funds. The Central Organization is piling expenses upon us, clearly pushing us toward bankruptcy, openly counting on financial collapse as a means to implement emergency measures that would reduce the Central Committee to nothing.

Two or three thousand rubles are urgently needed—and absolutely, without fail, immediately. Otherwise, within a month we will face total ruin!

Let us repeat: think carefully, send your delegates here, and look squarely at the issue. Our final word is this: either the congress goes ahead, or the entire Central Committee resigns. Please respond without delay—do you grant us your support? If not, please explain how we should proceed in the event that Kurz and I decide to resign; be sure to inform us promptly.

---

Written on January 31, 1904

Sent from Geneva to Russia

First published in 1929

In Lenin’s Collected Works, Volume X

Printed from the manuscript