It. I. LK11N11 — G. L. ALEKSINSKY.
3. II. 08. [Geneva.
Well, what a mess! To hand over an address and contact information to the Mensheviks—Mand[elberg]! What naiveté! Under no circumstances should Mandelberg be allowed within a mile of us; and if, by some unfortunate oversight, you’ve already made this mistake, then promptly retrieve his address and give him the runaround.
O
Proletarians: We wrote to you yesterday. The intensification of factional struggle is immense—and inevitable—everywhere. Details will be discussed in person.
V. Ulyanov
P.S. Note added by N.K. Krupskaya.
Dear Pyotr! In my view, Mandelberg really ought to be cut out of this affair. The Mensheviks are planning to launch their own newspaper here—and naturally, their first priority will be to exploit our path, should such a path ever come into being, and to sabotage it for us. Of course, Mandelberg is a gentle man, “fair,” one might say—but when factional hostilities flare up, all notions of fairness go straight to hell. The Mensheviks have already stirred up a vile quarrel here, engaging in outrages so outrageous that they’re almost hard to believe.
In Stockholm, a Latvian—a member of the Zurich group—has been detained with 500 banknotes in his possession. The Russian government is demanding his extradition. To hand him over to the Russian authorities would mean condemning him to torture. Swedish Social Democrats are intervening in the case, insisting only that local Social Democrats certify that the young man is a Social Democrat and that he had no involvement in the Tiflis affair. One might think this is not just the duty of Social Democrats—but of anyone who cares about justice, since the young man truly is a Social Democrat and has lived in Zurich all along. Yet Martynov is now whipping up agitation against any association with scoundrels, and the group—largely composed of Mensheviks—refuses to confirm a well-known fact, all in order to block the Latvian’s extradition to the Russian government. What a scoundrel! Local Mensheviks are likewise agitating for the group to refuse to issue a certificate stating that Ravich, Bogdassarian, and Khodzamirian are Social Democrats who have long resided in Geneva. The lawyer regards this certification as crucial. And then there’s more: Martov publishes in the local Bern Social Democratic newspaper that Semashko was never a delegate to the Stuttgart Congress.

LETTERS FROM THE SECOND PERIOD OF EMIGRATION

…of the Geneva group… The gist of this letter is that Semashko is neither a Social Democrat nor a member of the Geneva group. Although this is not stated explicitly, one can infer as much from Martov’s letter—and indeed, that is precisely the intent behind it.
One wonders what your “just” doctor will make of this!
The Mensheviks are now plotting to set up shop in the groups of the Bolsheviks, for they reportedly intend to publish their own organ, “The Voice of the Social Democrat,” on behalf of the overseas groups.
In Vienna, get in touch with the local Bolsheviks. There lives Trotsky (Hiittelbergerstr. 56, Wien, XIII, Leo Bronstein); he has received an invitation to participate in the Proletariat.
It remains unclear what position he now holds—or whether he will even choose to accept the invitation.
We will publish Proletariat in Geneva.
The first issue will appear in three weeks. I wrote to you about this yesterday, Innocentius!
Greetings!

Olga Ravich, together with students Tigrin Bogdassaran and Migran Khodjamiryan, were arrested in Munich in January 1908 while exchanging five-hundred-ruble banknotes.
-
The story of Semashko is recounted in detail in Lenin’s letter to Gorky dated February 2, 1908, as well as in the notes appended to that letter (see “Lenin Collection,” Volume I, p. 86).

As Lenin’s letter to Gorky dated February 13, 1908 reveals, Trotsky declined to collaborate on Proletariat (“Lenin Collection,” Volume I, pp. 88–89).
tз
I. I. LENIN — K. P. ZLINCHENKO
IN LAUSANNE.
30. III. 08. [Geneva.
Dear Comrade!
While deeply sympathetic to the aims of your endeavor, I must ask you to forgive me: in the coming months, I am utterly unable, due to pressing commitments, to take any part in it.
With socialist greetings,
N. Lenin.
* — I. Dubrovinsky. Ed.

LENIN COLLECTION
1 Lenin’s note was written in response to the report submitted by the “International Committee for Aid to Unemployed Workers in Russia,” which had been sent via N. Semashko to the Central Committee of the RSDLP, with the aim of enlisting Lenin’s participation in the committee.
The “International Committee for Aid to Unemployed Workers in Russia” (Lausanne) had existed since 1906 and was officially recognized by the International Socialist Bureau in 1907.
The committee’s organizer, K. Zlinchenko, served as its secretary in 1908. The committee also included G. de-Nova, Art. Seelich, G. Broche, V. Malenfap.
26B60
V. I. LENIN — M. F. ANDREEVA
TO O. B. ANRI (ITALY).
[Before May 1, 1908, Geneva.] 1
Dear Maria Fedorovna! I am sending a letter from our librarian to A[lexei] Maksimovich.2
Here’s the matter: I earnestly request that A[lexei] Maksimovich write a legal, open letter to the Russian newspapers, appealing for assistance in helping the Kuklin Library in Geneva by sending newspapers from the revolutionary era and materials related to its history.
The letter should be brief, explaining to the wider public why it is so important to support this library—not only for Gor’kii’s work, but also for many other writers known to him.
I ask you to arrange for the printing and distribution of this letter—hopefully, Zinovy Alekseevich * will not hesitate to lend a hand—and to send it to every Russian newspaper and journal of at least moderate standing.
Please, do organize all of this!
I also ask Zinovy Alekseevich to send, by slow mail, the books that Victor did not take—unless Natalya Bogdanovna * takes them.
*** 
I warmly shake your hand,
Your Lenin
Starting May 1st!
1 Date justification: N. Bogdanova and Viktor Taratuta, mentioned in the letter, visited Capri in the spring of 1908.
2 We have been unable to locate the letter from V. Karpinsky, who at that time served as librarian at the Kuklin Library in Geneva. The library itself, … — 3. Peskov. Ed.
** — V. Taratuta. Ed.
*** — N. Bogdanova. Ed.

LETTERS FROM THE SECOND PERIOD OF EMIGRATION

The Social Democratic Library, founded by G. Kuklin, had been open to the public in Geneva since 1902. After G. Kuklin’s death on May 13, 1907, the library passed to the Bolsheviks through his will (see note 1 on p. 217).
V. I. LENIN — V. V. VOROVSKY
TO ODESSA/
[Before June 24, 1908, Geneva.]
Dear friend! Thank you for your letter. Your “suspicions” are both unfounded. I have not been nervous—but our situation is difficult. A split with Bogdanov is looming. The root cause lies in his resentment over the sharp criticism leveled at his philosophical views during presentations (not in the editorial office, mind you). Now Bogdanov is picking apart every possible disagreement. He has brought to light the boycott movement, along with Aleksinsky*, who has been making scandalous accusations and with whom I was forced to sever all ties.
… They are building the split on the basis of empirio-monism versus boycottism. The conflict will erupt quickly. A showdown at the upcoming conference is inevitable. A split is highly probable. I will leave the faction as soon as the line of “leftist” thought and genuine “boycottism” gains the upper hand.2 I invited you, thinking that your swift arrival might help calm things down. Still, we are counting on you to attend the conference in August, according to the new calendar. Be sure to arrange for everyone to travel abroad. We will send funds for travel to all Bolsheviks. On the ground, issue the slogan: mandates should be granted only to local members—and only to those who are actively engaged in party work.
We earnestly urge you to contribute articles to our newspaper. We can now pay for contributions—and we will pay regularly.
I shake your hand.1
Do you know of any publisher willing to undertake the publication of the philosophy I am about to write?
1 For details on Lenin’s philosophical disagreements with A. Bogdanov during this period, and on the polemics surrounding the presentations, see Lenin’s Collected Works, Volume XIII, note 1, p. 334.
2 The break with Bogdanov’s group did not occur at the next “Paris” Conference (December 1908–January 1909), but rather at the expanded editorial meeting held on July 4–13, 1909 (see Lenin’s Collected Works, Volume XIV, note 55, p. 507).

This refers to the book then in preparation, “Materialism and Empiriocriticism: Critical Notes on a Reactionary Philosophy,” which was published in May 1909 by the “Zveno” publishing house in Moscow under the pseudonym V. Ilyin.
77M
V. I. LENIN — F. L. YU TIN T K Y N U
I.1011 don.
8. VII. 08. (Geneva.
Dear Comrade!
Regarding the creditor, I’ve decided to postpone writing until the next Central Committee meeting, which is expected very soon. It feels awkward to intrude—especially with the Party Collegium’s authorized meeting just around the corner.
I’ll be very glad to see you here. As for the surroundings of Geneva, I can’t really offer much in the way of concrete advice: I’ve been ill ever since returning from London, staying at home, unable to enjoy the countryside or the summer sun. I know that in France—and close to Geneva, too—there are many fine places, not overly expensive. For example, Mogpex, perched on the slopes of Mount Saleve, sits quite high above the valley. A friend of mine lived there in 1904, and it seems one could establish a modest household there at low cost, while boarding houses are somewhat pricier—perhaps around 4.5 francs*—since that’s the usual rate. Further from Geneva (about seven miles from Mogpex), there’s an electric tramway to Saleve—about ten miles or more—and along the Jura slopes, too, one could find suitable accommodation, though I’m not familiar with the local options.
I’ll try to learn something more specific and write to you as soon as I’ve gathered the necessary information.
I warmly shake your hand,
Our Lenin
New address! VI. Oulianoff, Bue des Maraichers 61, Geneve.
*) That’s not far from the School of Medicine.**
* — Franca. Ed.
** — the Medical School. Ra).

LETTERS FROM THE SECOND PERIOD OF EMIGRATION

1 The Central Committee meeting referred to here was the August Plenum of 1908, where the agenda included the item “On Financial Matters.” From the fragmentary records that have survived, we can only ascertain that it was decided to write a letter to the “Englishman”—a commission was appointed, consisting of one Bolshevik, one Menshevik, and one Bundist (see Archive of the Institute, No. 27118).
2U7K8
V. I. LENIN — A. A. BOGDA NOV.
[After October 24, 1908, Geneva.
Dear Alexander] Alexandrovich]!
I am sending you Steklov’s letter.1 Please reply to him yourself. I have replied—I agree, provided he reallocates the funds—my financial support, the peasant question.
I shake your hand,
Lenin
P.S. Please return the letter.
1 In his letter dated October 24, 1908, Yu. Steklov proposed that Lenin take part in a collection of essays dedicated to the life and work of N. G. Chernyshevsky. A. Bogdanov, A. Lunacharsky, L. Kamenev, Finn (A. Enotaevsky), V. Bazarov, and D. Ryazanov were also invited to contribute. Steklov suggested to Lenin the topic “Chernyshevsky and the Peasant Question.” The remaining topics were distributed as follows: Yu. Steklov—“Biography, Life, and Work”; A. Finn—“Chernyshevsky as an Economist”; L. Kamenev—“Chernyshevsky as a Politician.” The topic proposed to A. Bogdanov remains unknown, since the end of Steklov’s letter has not been preserved. Apparently, Steklov asked Lenin to negotiate with Bogdanov—but Lenin forwarded the entire letter to Bogdanov, adding his own note.
The publication of this collection never came to fruition; instead, in 1909, Yu. Steklov released the work “N. G. Chernyshevsky: His Life and Work” (published by “Public Benefit,” St. Petersburg).