[August before 22, 1905. Geneva.]

From the Editorial Board. We reply to the comrade's questions: 1) Yes, both to lead and to administer until the convocation of the all-people's constituent assembly; 2) Under such circumstances when this participation will ensure the possibility of "a ruthless struggle against all counter-revolutionary attempts and the defence of the independent interests of the working class" (from the resolution of the Third Congress); 3) In the resolution of the Third Congress on insurrection it is directly stated that it is necessary "to explain to the proletariat through propaganda and agitation not only the political significance, but also the practical-organisational side of the impending armed insurrection." This means: it is necessary to develop the consciousness of the masses, to explain to them the political significance of the insurrection. But this is not enough. It is necessary, moreover, to call the masses to armed struggle, to begin immediately to arm and to organise into detachments of the revolutionary army. Further, we must tell the author of the letter that a whole pamphlet by N. Lenin, "Two Tactics of Social-Democracy in the Democratic Revolution," is devoted to the elucidation of the resolutions of the Congress and the Conference on the provisional revolutionary government. [This is a complex question, and to understand it one must think and study.] Finally, concerning the split, we will say that the author's indignation is entirely legitimate. We advise him to strive for universal recognition of uniform rules of party organisation, to strive without being disconcerted by any intellectualist outcries either about the fist from above or the fist from below, to strive not secretly, not by means of intrigues, not by founding new groups or a new party, but openly, directly, within the framework of one of the organisations of [our] R.S.D.L.P. Party.