V. I.

Lenin

36

To:   MAXIM GORKY

Dear A. M., I have read the “Manifesto” [1] today....

It seems there is a complete amnesty for writers. You should try to get hack— having first found out, of course, whether they won’t play you a dirty trick on account of the
“ school ”, [2] etc. Probably they won’t be able to prosecute
you for this.

I hope you don’t take the view that one mustn’t “accept”
an amnesty? This would he wrong. A revolutionary, as things are today, will do more from inside Russia, and our
deputies even sign “the solemn oath”.

But you don’t have to sign anything, only to make use of the amnesty. Drop me a line about your opinion and
your plans . Perhaps you will call here it you do move—
after all, it’s on your way!

And for a revolutionary writer to have the possibility of roaming around Russia (the new Russia) means that he
is afterwards able to hit a hundred limes harder at the
Romanovs and Co....

Did you get my last letter? Somehow we haven’t had news from you for a long time. Are you well?

Yours, Lenin

P.S. Did you get the letter from N. K. with the material ?