V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v49; en:MT;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

Dear Friend! Many thanks for the translation. I was unable to read it; I spoke at the very beginning of the congress, when the French had not yet arrived and nothing was being translated into French. I will nevertheless try to make use of the translation, I will send it to Abramovich, etc., and we will attempt to have it printed somewhere.

I did not manage to get to the post office today: it closed at 7 p.m., and I was busy at the congress.

My impression of the congress is good. For the first time during the war, at a Swiss congress, not only is the Left manifesting itself (in 1914 it did not exist at all; in 1915 it was only just beginning to appear), but it is also beginning to coalesce directly in opposition to both the Right and the "Centre" (Grimm). This is largely Radek's merit; earlier, in the summer, he had muddled things somewhat, for Grigory wrote to me positively that Radek had written to him, boasting about how I had "reconciled Grimm with Platten" (some merit!). And Bronsky pursues a line three times more wavering and three times more stupid than Radek.

Radek arrived, and we "reconciled" with him (there had been a strain close to a break).

On the eve of the congress, we managed to arrange a private meeting of left-wing delegates (something I had been insisting on for three weeks, but unsuccessfully until then!). At this meeting, all the left-wing leaders were present, including the young ones*. We easily passed our own resolution, acting in unison with Radek, having agreed to acceptable concessions. The struggle has already begun at the congress. The first battle was over the assessment of the "Nationalrat" faction. The Left attacked. The speeches by Naine and Platten were excellent. Greulich defended the Right extremely weakly. Grimm again played the centre and, by means of "amendments", achieved a unanimous vote (somewhat confusing the cards). He saw that the majority was clearly on Platten's side. Tomorrow there is to be a battle over the question of Kienthal: here the draft of the left-wing resolution was drawn up with our participation; it is much better than the one on the Nationalrat. We shall see what comes of it! I am like an old warhorse in battle.

A firm handshake. Yours, Lenin