“forms.” This marks the beginning of battles waged against you everywhere, wherever the Bogdanovists manage to penetrate.

To begin, you must first determine your exact numbers. How many resolute opponents does the “Bogdanovist” platform actually have? Can this number be increased—or not? If so, how and when? If not, then what is the stance of the “neutrals”? You must carefully consider what course of action you should adopt in the event of an inevitable schism within the school—how best to win over these neutrals, or at the very least, to prevent them from falling entirely into the hands of the Bogdanovists.

Next: How do you intend to stage your departure from the school? Will it be a simple exit, or will it be a withdrawal triggered by a struggle over competing platforms? Of course, if your internal disputes have unfolded as rapidly as one might have expected based on your first two letters, then a split may already be a foregone conclusion—indeed, the Bogdanovists may have already driven you out, quite simply driven you out; in that case, there is little left to discuss. But if such a split has not yet occurred, then think carefully about how you ought to arrange your departure. You must provide answers to all Russian organizations. You must refute, with precise clarity and backed by concrete evidence, all the attacks that will now rain down upon you in countless torrents from the “Bogdanovists.” You must prepare to defend both your own views on the school itself and your position on the Bogdanovist “platform”—214.

Should the question of your departure arise, you must secure the provision of funds for every single one of you, sufficient to cover the cost of traveling back to Russia. This is the school’s responsibility—just as, prior to the schism, it was the duty of the Bolshevik Central Committee to provide financial assistance for travel back to Russia (following the December Party Conference of 1908), enabling Lyadov, Vsevolod, and Stanislav to make their journeys. At that time, they had requested funds from us—and we provided them.

Of course, we will assist you with passport matters and with arranging our meeting—in Paris, or perhaps in some small town where secrecy can be maintained more easily and where you will waste less time, and where expenses will be lower. We will deliberate further on the specific location of our meeting and select it at a later date. As for finances, our resources are far from abundant, and the support we can offer will be modest at best.

I am writing to you in order to clarify matters and to exchange views. Once we receive more precise responses from you, once all questions have been thoroughly addressed through our correspondence, we will convene the Executive Committee of the expanded edition of “Proletary,” and at that point the extent of our assistance, the timing and location of our meeting, and other related details will be decided.

Please respond in greater detail. Could you please provide us with a direct address where we can reach you?

Best regards, The Secretary of “Proletary” (Italy)

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Written in October 1909.

Sent from Paris to the island of Capri.

First published in 1933.

In the Lenin Collection, Volume XXV.

Printed from the manuscript.