LETTER TO THE STUDENTS OF THE CAPRI SCHOOL, NO. 1.
[October 1909, Paris.1
Dear Comrades! We have received both of your letters concerning the emerging split within the “School.” These are the first comradely missives from like-minded comrades to reach us from Capri—and they have filled us all with profound joy. On behalf of our entire group, we warmly welcome the clear and forthright debate that has taken place within the School.
To bring to light the true character of the School as a new center for the New Fraction, time was naturally required. We never for a moment doubted that the most conscious Social-Democratic workers would, sooner or later, come to a clear understanding of the situation and find their way onto the correct path. From Moscow, we have learned that letters have arrived there from ardent “Bogdanovites” among the School’s students—letters openly agitating in favor of the Capri center and doing everything in their power to hinder the Social-Democratic workers’ ability to grasp the true significance of the Capri School.
Now, let us turn to the matter at hand. You, comrades, must carefully reflect upon this newly arisen situation so that we may, together with you, thoroughly discuss it and take the proper steps—choosing the right moment for each action. You surely understand that the split within the School is now inevitable: as you yourself write, you can no longer remain in such a School. While you may not be counting on unified action with the fervent “Bogda—

LENINSKII COLLECTION
“Nevtsi”—you certainly cannot rely on them alone. But since the inevitability of the School’s split has become clear, we must clearly comprehend the significance of this split, clearly envision the struggles that will arise from it: how the Bogdanovites will seek to “neutralize” you all (that is, to deprive you of the opportunity to exert your influence and to tell the truth about the School), how they will endeavor to discredit you all (the nickname “Agent B.C.,” which, according to your own account, was spread by Alexinsky, is but the beginning; the real fruits are yet to come), and so on and so forth.
You must ponder all of this carefully and act with firm resolve, with deliberation—as one acts in battle: as you yourself write, “battles” are raging within the School over the platform. This is the beginning of the battles waged against you everywhere, wherever the Bogdanovites manage to penetrate. To begin, you must first determine your exact numbers: how many resolute opponents stand against the “Bogdanovist” platform? Might this number increase—or not? If so, how and when? If not, then what is the conduct of the “neutrals”? You must consider what stance you should adopt in the event of an inevitable split within the School—so that, if possible, you may win over these neutrals, or at least ensure that you do not entirely surrender them into the hands of the Bogdanovites.
Next: How do you intend to handle your departure from the School? Will it be a simple exit, or will it be a departure born of struggle over the platform? Of course, if the struggle between you has unfolded as rapidly as could be anticipated from your first two letters, then the split may already be evident—indeed, the Bogdanovites may have already driven you out, simply driven you out. In that case… [·…]* there is little left to say. But if that has not yet occurred, then think carefully about how you ought to arrange your departure in the face of the split. You must provide answers to all Russian organizations. You must refute, with precise clarity and backed by concrete facts, all the attacks that will now rain down upon you in countless torrents from the “Bogdanovists.” You must prepare to defend your views—not only regarding the School itself, but also concerning the Bogdanovists’ “platform.”
Should the question of your departure arise, you must secure the provision of funds for all of you to make your way back to Russia. This is the School’s responsibility—just as, before the split, B.C.’s obligation had been to provide money for travel back to Russia (after the split, one or two crossed-out words were not fully deciphered. Ed.).

THE STRUGGLE ON TWO FRONTES

The October Party Conference
1908) and Lyadov, and All-Volod, * and Stanislav *—they had, at that time, demanded funds from us and received them.
Of course, we will assist you—both with regard to passports and with arrangements for our meeting **** (whether in Paris or in some small town, where things can be kept more clandestine and where you will waste less time, and where costs will be lower). We will discuss the specific location of our meeting further and decide upon it at a later date. Our financial resources are far from abundant, and the assistance we can offer will be modest at best.
I am writing all of this to help clarify matters and to exchange opinions. Once we receive more precise responses from you, once we have resolved all questions through our correspondence, we will convene the Executive Committee of the expanded editorial board of Proletary—and then the extent of our assistance, the time and place of our meeting, and other details will be determined.
Please respond in greater detail. Could you perhaps give us your direct address?
Greetings. Secretary of Proletary.
1 This letter serves as a reply to two letters from workers—students of the Capri School—who had broken away from the Bogdanovist group:
1) to the letter from I. I. Pankratov (“the Old Believer”), a delegate from Moscow’s Sokolniki District, and
2) to the collective letter from five individuals—the same Pankratov, along with N. U. Ustinov (“Vasily”), a delegate from Moscow’s Presnya–Khamovnichesky District, V. E. Lyushvin (“Pakhom”), a member of the Moscow Regional Organization, A. S. Romanov (“Ali the Alexinsky”), and N. N. Kozyrev (“Foma”), a member of the Oryol Regional Organization. These letters from the Capri-based dissenters were printed alongside Lenin’s article “A Shameful Failure” (Works, Vol. XIV, p. 195) in a separate (first) print run of No. 50 of Proletary. The publication of the Capri dissenters’ letters sparked a storm among Bogdanov’s supporters within the School and ultimately led to the expulsion of this quintet from the School. Along with them was also expelled N. E. Vilnov (“Mikhail”), one of the School’s original organizers.
* To V. P. Denisov. Ed.
** To A. V. Sokolov. Ed.
*** In the manuscript, N. K. Krupskaya corrected the text to read: “we will try to help.” Ed.
**'* N. K. Krupskaya corrected the text to read: “we will arrange a meeting.” Ed.

LENINSKII COLLECTION