V. I.

Lenin

340

To:   INESSA ARMAND

... [1] and not in 1912, but in 1911) we in the editorial office of
Sotsial-Demokrat received Vinnichenko’s pamphlet in Russian
devoted to a defence against the accusations levelled at him by the
Social-Democrats for “Honesty to Oneself”. Vinnichenko asked for an
answer in writing and in print. I remember being impressed by the pamphlet,
and I wanted to write about it, but was prevented by all kinds of petty
affairs (oh, those “petty affairs”, those apologies for business,
imitation products of business, a hindrance to business, how I hate fuss
and bustle and petty affairs, and how tied I am to them inseparably and for
all time!! That’s a sign more that I am lazy and tired and badly humoured . Generally I like my profession and now I often almost hate it [2]

).

By the way, I mislaid that pamphlet (published in Lvov) and have forgotten
its title. Find it if you can, read it and send it to me.

I thought Vinnichenko sincere and naive when he puts the question:
“Does a Social-Democrat have the right (!! sic!!) to visit a brothel?”
and keeps harping on this question, but all the time individually . He is sort of half-anarchist or total anarchist, and
the Vperyodists must bamboozle him. He once read a lecture in Paris on
“Honesty to Oneself” with Lunacharsky in the chair, did he not? Or are
things in such a way that Lunacharsky is for Vinnichenko, while
Alexinsky is against? I would like to know some more details about it . [3]

Before leaving Paris you must [4] discuss with Nik. Vas., Kamsky and Ludmila the question of the delegation
to the Vienna congress. It is most desirable to have as many delegates as
possible. The difficulty is money (expenses for the trip+15
frs. for a ticket to the congress). The task is: 1) to search in advance
for people fit to be delegates and able to travel at their own expense; 2) to raise more money; 3) to find
out how much NN, MM, etc., are short of.

All the very best, Yours, Lenin

---
Notes:
[1]
The beginning of this letter is missing. The manuscript is available
only from p. 3.— Ed .

[2]
The passages in italics marked with two asterisks are in English in
the original— Ed .

[3]

[4]