V. I.

Lenin

263

To:   THE BOLSHEVIK DEPUTIES OF THE FOURTH DUMA [1]

17/XII

Dear Friends, We are distressed not so much by the defeat over No. 16 as by the
inexcusable silence of friends (of the six or at least the five) on the
matter, and the light-hearted attitude to things. For this means killing
the cause, ruining everything. There is no declaration yet from the five or
the six, because they have not yet broken away from the grip of dishonest
people. (No. 3 says himself: it smacks of a criminal act!) Remember, for
heaven’s sake, that we shall all be responsible if this terrible assumption
proves correct. But the cheque must, at all costs, be made out in the name
of No. 3 or No. 5, the funds placed in charge of our own
man [2]

at once, or No. 5 should take over control. [3]

A subscription campaign should be launched immediately everywhere and
letters from the co-operators printed every day about this.

We still have no Duma materials, neither statistical reports
(1), nor (2) the Duma bulletins, nor (3) the Cadet interpellation,
(4) nor Kokovtsov’s memorandum, (5) nor the Cadet or any other bills. Please exert every effort to obtain
this before the Duma adjourns and send it to us as soon as possible.

Reply if only in a few words, but without delay.