V. I.

Lenin

The three Central Committee members Glebov, Zverev , [2]
and Lenin , having discussed the differences within the
Central Committee, have arrived at the following conclusions,
which shall be communicated to all members of the Central
Committee:

1) The differences arose over the question of summoning a
congress. After Lenin and Vasilyev had declared in the Party
Council in favour of a congress, the majority of the Central
Committee (by five votes to four, Travinsky’s vote having
been transferred to Comrade Glebov ) declared against a
congress. Lenin and Vasilyev thereupon announced their provisional resignation from the Council. This conflict has
now been adjusted [1] by having Glebov and Lenin serve as the Central Committee’s representatives on the Council.

2) Comrade Glebov has informed Comrade Lenin that he, Glebov, will
resign from the Central Committee unless Lenin gives up agitating
(outside the Central Committee) for a congress and works against a
congress. Lenin, considering such an attitude to the question
wrong and impermissible in principle, states that he will canvass
the opinion of each of the Central Committee members and will then
give his reply, which can only be whether he, Lenin, is resigning
from the Central Committee or not. (What applies to Lenin likewise
applies, from Comrade Glebov’s standpoint, to all Central
Committee members sharing Lenin’s view.)

3) To give an accurate picture of the differences within the Central
Committee at the present time, it should be stated that Comrade Valentin and Comrade

Nikitich , [3] in the declaration written by them in
March and approved by
Comrade Glebov , stated (1) that they were emphatically
opposed to co-optation at the demand of the minority; (2) that they
shared the views on organisation set out in the pamphlet What Is To Be Done? and
(3) that they, or at least two of them, did not approve of the opportunist position of certain Party writers. As
regards a congress, Comrade Glebov is convinced (1) that the
difference on this question is causing a duality of policy in the
Central Committee, and (2) that a congress may lead to a split. It is
because he does not wish to assume responsibility for this that he
declares himself bound to resign from the Central Committee. Lenin, on
the other hand, considers that the Central Committee, being a body
accountable to the congress, must be neutral in the matter of the
congress and allow all its members freedom of agitation. As to a
split, it is unlikely, for the majority are prepared in principle to
make terms at the congress, even to the point of neutralising
Iskra .

4) Pending settlement of this conflict all official steps and
statements by Comrade Glebov and Comrade Lenin on behalf
of the Central Committee shall only be undertaken by their common
consent and over their joint signatures.

Central Committee members

Glebov Zverev Lenin

Geneva, May 26, 1904

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Notes:
[1]
Concerning this see the letter by Lenin appended hereto, which has been approved by
Comrade Glebov. (Pp. 426-29 of this volume.— Ed .)
— Lenin

[2]
Zverev —pseudonym of the Bolshevik Maria Essen, member of
the Central Committee.

[3]
Nikitich —pseudonym of L. B. Krasin.