V. I.

Lenin

164

LETTER TO THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF PROLETARY

To B.C. Members, Comrades Maximov, Marat and Domov

... with regard to your proposal to convene the B.C. now, we consider it
necessary to state the following:

1) A number of previous meetings of the B.C. have shown that of the
more or less important questions raised at these meetings there is a whole
group that is obviously connected with the questions of a more general
nature which the meeting of the enlarged B.C. is now being called to
settle. Deciding this group of questions before the general issue of the course the entire fundamental and practical policy of the B.C. as the
leading organ of the Bolshevik group should take, is under these
circumstances either impossible or in effect develops into a squabble and
heightens its elements. With the attitude to the decisions of the
B.C. which we observe on the part of the “opposition”, comradely
discussion is reduced to a series of sallies by these comrades against
individual members of the B.C., to unwarranted repetition of gossip and
slander.

2) In view of this, the B.C., noting that some members of the B.C. have
embarked on the path of division, has already resolved to allow decisions
on urgent practical questions to be taken by means of a
questionnaire circulated among B.C. members before the plenary
meeting. We there fore see no need at present to convene a meeting of the
members of the B.C. now in Paris, all the more as the question of the date
of the enlarged meeting—the immediate purpose of the proposed
meeting—can only be settled by obtaining the opinions of all
members of the B.C., mainly of those now in Russia. Corresponding inquiries
have been sent to all of them and we are now awaiting the replies, of which
you will be informed by the secretary.

The question of inviting representatives from the regions does not
require special discussion, since their presence is obligatory at enlarged
meetings of the B.C.

Comrade N.’s statement concerning the date suitable for him would, of
course, have been given the most careful consideration even if he had
handed it in himself and not through three other members.

With comradely greetings,

Y. Kamenev
N. Lenin
Grigory
Victor

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