I took advantage of my stay at the Chalon Congress to ascertain the opinion of our French comrades, the Guesdists, regarding the possible participation of Russian Social Democrats in a provisional revolutionary government. This opinion is all the more interesting and important for us because our "ultra-dialecticians," offended in their tried and tested orthodox-revolutionary feelings by the combination of words "participation... in the government," hastened to accuse the Bolsheviks of Jaurèsism, Millerandism, and various other sins; this opinion is especially valuable to us also because the rich experience, the undisputed revolutionary Marxism, the stubborn and energetic struggle against Millerandism lend particular authority to the views of the Guesdists. I conversed with three leaders of the Guesdist faction: Jules Guesde, Lafargue, and Bracke.

My question was formulated as follows: Do Russian Social Democrats have the right, from the standpoint of revolutionary Marxism, to take part in a provisional revolutionary government created by a nationwide uprising?

Bracke. For me there has never been any doubt about this; already on several occasions in Paris I have expressed my opinion on this matter to Comrade Belsky. I cannot speak so categorically on the question of the State Duma, because for that one would need to be well acquainted with the state of Russian affairs.

Lafargue. Russian Social Democrats must enter the provisional government to fight against counter-revolution; they must be there together with representatives of the petty bourgeoisie, in order to compel the latter to share responsibility for further revolutionary activity...

Guesde. Why, of course, of course (mais certainement, certainement); our Russian comrades must not neglect any means of struggle to break the autocracy. They must enter the provisional government in order to win for the working class as much freedom and as many reforms as possible.