V. I.

Lenin

44

To:   MAXIM GORKY

July 25, 1913

Dear A. M., I have kept on intending to write to you, and then
pulling it off on account of my wife’s operation. The other
day at last the operation look place, and things are now on
the mend. The operation proved a rather difficult one: I
am very glad indeed that we managed to get Kocher to operate.

Now to business. You wrote that you would be in Berlin in August. When in August? At the beginning or at the end?
We intend to leave here on August 4. Our tickets lake us
through Zurich, Munich and Vienna, and we shall break the
journey in each of these cities. (Possibly the doctor will
not let us leave so soon as the 4th: in that case we shall
postpone it again.)

Couldn’t we see each other somewhere? In all probability
it would suit you to travel through Berne, or through
Zurich, or through Munich, wouldn’t it?

There is great need for us to meet. The closing down of
Pravda creates a devilishly difficult situation. Perhaps
we could think of something. Then in Berlin you could do
a very great deal for us, i.e., for Pravda .

Therefore I beg you to write immediately , be it only two words, whether our meeting is possible, either here or
in the places mentioned, at the beginning of August? If it
is im possible, I will write to you about everything in greater
detail, particularly about the school (the arrest of the organiser [1] has spoilt things for us damnably; we are looking
for another).

I shake your hand warmly and wish you the best of luck,
and most of all health for the journey. So reply at once !

Yours, Lenin

Address: Herrn Ulianoff. 4. Gesellschaftsstraβe, 4. (
Svizzera). Bern .