V. I.

Lenin

Editorial Comment on Veteran’s Article: “The National Question and the Lettish Proletariat”

We gladly publish Comrade
Veteran’s [2] article, which gives an outline of the history of the
national question among the Letts in general and in the Lettish
Social-Democratic Party in particular. Draft amendments or addenda by
Lettish Marxists for the decision by the Summer (1913)
Conference [3] would be very welcome. Lettish Social-Democrats have long
been in sympathy with the Bund; but this sympathy was shaken firstly by the
theoretical criticism of the Marxists, and secondly by the Bundists’
separatism in practice, particularly after 1906. We hope that the
discussion of the national question among Lettish Social-Democrats will
continue and that it will lead to the adoption of definite decisions.

As regards Comrade Veteran’s remarks, we have only the following
comment to make. He thinks our reference to
Switzerland [1] unconvincing because all three nations in that country are historical and
have been equal from the very beginning. But “nations without a history”
cannot find models or patterns anywhere (apart from utopias) except among
historical nations. As for the equality of nations, that is something even
advocates of “cultural-national autonomy” take for granted. Consequently,
the experience of civilised mankind tells us that where genuine
equality of nations and consistent democracy exist, “cultural-national
autonomy”, is superfluous; and where they do not exist, it
remains utopian, and propaganda in its favour is propaganda in favour of
refined nationalism.

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Notes:
[1]
See pp. 20–21 of this volume.— Ed .

[2]
Veteran —P. I. Stučka, one of the oldest leaders of the Social-Democratic movement.

[3]
This refers to the Conference of the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. and Party workers held on September 23-October 1
(October 6–14), 1913 in the village of Poronin, near Cracow. For reasons
of secrecy it was called the “August” (“Summer”) Conference.