V. I.

Lenin

209

To:   THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING OF THE C.O. EDITORIAL BOARD [1]

Dear Comrade, Having walked out of today’s meeting I consider it my duty to explain
to you, in case of any Party (and quasi-Party) rumours and gossip, the
significance of my action. I consider it not only my right but my duty to
refuse to participate in a so-called “discussion” which serves as a
pretext for the liquidationist section of the Editorial Board to indulge in
the worst kind of rumours circulated by the worst kind of anti-Party
elements. When Martov, for ex ample, refers to the otzovists as a section
of the Party, and at the same time openly repeats the gossip noised by the
most blackguard elements of the otzovists abroad, alleging that the case of
Comrade Victor was closed or hushed up as a result of bribery , [2] and at the same time demands that they, Martov and
Dan, be protected from such suspicions on the part of “a section of the
Party”, then anyone can see quite clearly that under cover of
“ protection ” from otzovist blackmail we are being offered
nothing more nor less than liquidationist abetting of otzovist
sallies of the worst kind.

Considering it beneath my dignity to participate in a “ discussion ” in which such things are brought up, I declare that in future too I shall try to walk out of any meeting where there is
such a “discussion”.

With comradely greetings,

N. Lenin

7.XI.10

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Notes:
[1]
The chairman of the meeting of the Editorial Board of the C.O. probably
was either A. Warski or his deputy V. Leder.

[2]
One of the questions taken up at the January 1910 plenary meeting of
the C.C. was the case of V. K. Taratuta (Victor), a member of the Bolshevik
Centre, who demanded that the C.C. institute an inquiry concerning the
rumours circulated in the Party defaming him. The plenary meeting appointed
an investigation commission which after a thorough inquiry unanimously
agreed that there were no grounds whatever for accusing Victor of being a
provocateur and cleared his name completely.