V. I.

Lenin

235

To:   V. A. TER-IOANNISYAN

5/V. 12

Werte Genossin, I do not know whether you have heard the sad news about our mutual
friend who introduced me to you in Berlin—Suren Spandaryan. He has been
arrested in Baku. His wife has written to his father that there is nobody
to help him; she says he has nothing, not even bedding. Nobody to take him
milk, etc. The father told me that he has many acquaintances in Baku and
that be had written to one of them. Why only to one, I do not
know.

Spandaryan’s father lives here (Hotel Nicole, 19. Rue Pierre Nicole,
19. Paris). He looks very sick and old. His son bad promised to do his best
to send money to him from Baku—but couldn’t do it because of the
arrest. The father is now penniless and is threatened with eviction. His
situation is most grievous, I would say desperate.

We helped him with a small loan. But I nevertheless decided to write to
you. You probably know some of Spandaryan’s friends and acquaintances in
Baku and Paris. His father has on more than one occasion forgotten to
address letters he has mailed. Because of this I am very much afraid that
his letters will not reach Baku. Do you know anybody in Baku whom one could
write to about Suren and ask to take care of him?

Furthermore, if you have mutual friends, it would be very necessary to
take care of the father as well. I have heard it said that he has a rich
son in Yekaterinodar. It would be a good thing if you were to write and
impress on him that he should send enough money to enable the old
man to pay his debts and leave from here.

I hope you will do whatever you can for both Spandaryans and drop me a
line about it.

How are you getting on? I have been hoping to hear from you. Have you
managed to look into Social-Democratic literature? Have you become a Social-Democrat and a Bolshevik?

I wish you everything of the best

Yours, Lenin

Vl. Oulianoff.
4. Rue Marie Rose. Paris . XIV.

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