V. I.

Lenin

41

To:   THE BOLSHEVIK DEPUTIES IN THE FOURTH STATE DUMA

Dear Friends, In our opinion you made a mistake in tying yourselves
up with
Fyodor. [1] Probably nothing but squabbles will come of it. You should have published your own
report. [2]
But now we have to start from what has already been done.
In the present situation it is essential to insist above all
on complete equality , and at the very outset to move a formal
resolution, approximately in this form: “The co-operative [3]
resolves that in drawing up the report no majority decision
of one wing over another is allowed, and both wings (the
Six and the Seven) enjoy complete equality in all respects,
i.e., the commission is set up on a parity basis, and disputed
passages are edited by agreement, and not by a majority
decision. If speeches of the deputies are printed at the end
of the report, the selection of the speeches also is to be by
agreement.”
This resolution is essential. Otherwise they will set up a commission on the basis of equality, and then
the co-operative, by a majority of one, will endorse what
the liquidator proposes. If Feodora rejects such a resolution,
we recommend you officially to declare that, in view of their
unwillingness to agree to equality, you reserve complete
freedom] of action. Even so, you can still put forward your
own candidate.

We append the first rough draft of the theses:
1) The election campaign. The circumstances in which
it takes place. Its results for the Social-Democrats. The
platform of the Social-Democrats: the 8–hour day, confiscation of the land, complete democratisation.

2) The composition of the Social-Democratic group. How
it was set up. The Jagiello case. [4] (Exposition of the points
of view of the Six and the Seven. Indication of protests
made.)

3) The political platform of the group and its first speeches.
The declaration. Indicate that the Six reject cultural–
national autonomy. Indicate dial wide sections of the workers
have approved precisely ... the watchwords in the declaration. An outline of the political position of the
Social-Democrats.

The main watchwords are still: the 8–hour day, transfer
of the land, complete democratisation.

4) Questions put down by the group.

5) The group and the Budget.

6) The bourgeois groups in the Duma and sharp criticism
of them and of the liberals (the speeches by Maklakov, the
Octobrists, [5] the Black
Hundreds [6] ).

7) The workers and the group. Their instructions, appeals,
reactions, material for questions, mutual aid in cash, etc.

8) Immunity of the deputies (the case of
Petrovsky [7] ).

Internal differences: each side puts forward its own point
of view, with an equal number of pages to each. Statements
made by each side to the press are reprinted. A list of
workers’ resolutions, as many as there are. The supplement.
Most important tasks.

We await your news. Apartments have been taken. [8]