TO
THE UNFINISHED
NOTE (CHAIN CONFESSIONS")

10646
* LETTER TO G. D. LEITEISEN ASKING HIM TO WRITE AN
INTERVIEW WITH GUESDE, LAFARGUE, AND BRACKE.
[November, 1905]
Dear L.! Please, do not be lazy and write a little article
or at least a note about your interview with Guesde, Lafargue, and Bracke
about the temporary, revolutionary government and our participation.
This is necessary for *Proletary* (or for *New Life*, depending
on the circumstances). At least a few lines, but write and do it
quickly!
Yours, N. Lenin
1 The note requested by Lenin about the interview with Guesde, Lafargue, and Bracke
was sent by G. D. Leiteisen and published under the title "Guesdists
and the Participation of Russian Social Democrats in the Provisional Revolutionary Government" in
№ 26 of *Proletary* dated <November 25 (12), 1905 (see appendix).
Appendix.
Guesdists and the Participation of Russian Social Democrats in the Provisional Revolutionary Government.
I took advantage of my stay at the Chalon
Congress, to find out the opinion of our French comrades, Guesdists, regarding
the possible participation of Russian Social Democrats in the temporary
revolutionary government. This opinion is all the more interesting
and important for us because our "ultradiatecticians," offended in their proven
orthodox-revolutionary feelings by the combination of words "participation...
in the government," hastened to accuse the Bolsheviks of Jaurèsism, Millerandism,
etc., etc., transgressions; for us, this opinion is especially valuable also because
the rich experience, the undisputed revolutionary Marxism, and the persistent and energetic struggle against Millerandism give special authority to the views of the Guesdists. I spoke with three leaders of the Guesdist
Faction: Jules Guesde, Lafargue, and Bracke.
My question was formulated as follows: do Russian Social
Democrats, from the point of view of revolutionary Marxism, have the right to participate
in a temporary revolutionary government created by a nationwide
uprising?
Bracke. For me, there has never been any doubt about this; I have already expressed my opinion on this matter more than once in Paris
to Comrade Welsky. I cannot speak so categorically on the issue of the State
Duma, because for this it is necessary to be well acquainted
with the situation of Russian affairs.
Lafargue. Russian Social Democrats should join the temporary government to fight against the counter-revolution; they should be

Lenin Miscellany XVI.

LENIN
Miscellany there together with representatives of the petty bourgeoisie in order to force the latter to share responsibility for further revolutionary activity...
Guesde. Well, of course, of course (mais certainement, certainement); our
Russian comrades should not neglect any means of struggle in order to break the autocracy. They should join the temporary
government in order to achieve as much freedom and as many reforms as possible for the working class.

IV. FOUR DOCUMENTS WRITTEN BY LENIN AFTER
RETURNING FROM HIS FIRST EMIGRATION TO RUSSIA
DURING THE ERA OF THE FIRST REVOLUTION
1900-190"
G.G.