V. I.

Lenin

To:   THE EDITOR OF PRAVDA

Dear Colleague, Kamenev writes to us today that you have informed him
that peaceful relations have once again been restored between Plekhanov and yourselves by the elimination of
“misunderstandings”.

I would very much ask you to let me know the meaning of this dream. We had every reason to believe that the
rejection of the articles by
Dnevnitsky [2] and Plekhanov regarding a concession to the liquidators (for it was precisely about this that they were writing, under the screen
of “unity”) took place quite deliberately and resolutely.
So what “misunderstandings” could there be in this case?

Are there not new misunderstandings in this latest communication?

The last, or more precisely yesterday’s, editorial in Rech
(July 19) is of tremendous importance. It cannot be doubted
that the Cadets have done everything in their power (and
beyond it) to “ hush up ” Zvezda and Pravda .
And now they have come out with it! It is clear that they themselves
have thereby admitted the danger . They have shown themselves unable to pass it by and hush it up. They have
been driven out of their position of silence. And
Prokopovich and Blank in Zaprosy Zhizni [3] echo them still more
crudely, stupidly, tearfully.

Now of all times it is essential, in my opinion, to bring
intense pressure to bear on Rech , to publish a number of
articles against it and inflame the struggle still further.
This is necessary both from the point of view of principle (since only Zvezda and Pravda are carrying on a campaign
on behalf of work ins-class democracy, while both Rech and the Prokopoviches approvingly pat the liquidators on
the back), and for practical reasons (since it is just this
more lively struggle that must liven up both arguments and talks with the electors and their enrol men t in the
electoral registers).

Could you not find out how many people are registering,
by polling districts, streets and professions? It would be
extremely important to encourage them by concrete examples, in order to arouse competition between districts, streets
and professions.

I hope you’ll be kind enough also to inform Nevskaya Zvezda that I insist on the return of my article replying to
Blank (“Petty Artifices”) if it is not printed in No. 18.
I will in that case certainly print it in the journal. Now
that all the liberals + liquidators + non-Party and Co.
have turned against us, it would be criminal for us to keep
silent.

The election campaign in Petersburg has begun successfully—the leadership has been won by
Zvezda and Pravda — what is necessary is not to lose one’s grip on it, and 1o carry
through the Tight to a finish. This is in the interests of the paper itself , quite apart from everything else, which, of
course, I do not mention.

I await news of the “positively decided” question.

With greetings,
V. Ulyanov

P.S. I still await a reply about the articles: “The
Results of Six Months’
Work”. [1]

P.P.S. Couldn’t you at least send me a cutting from
No. 17 of Nevskaya Zvezda —the lit He article “Unity or
Split”?