V. I.

Lenin

351

To:   S. G. SHAHUMYAN

Dear Suren, I am surprised that you have not answered (or not noticed) the
important point of the Bill. How to determine the proportionate
share of expenditure on the education of different nations? (if this share
is required to be not lower than the share of the given nation in the
population).

You should consider this. Collect data. Go through the literature. Go
into details. Give examples in figures from the life of the Caucasus.

Yet not a word from you about this!

To include autonomy in self-determination is wrong . It is a
downright error. See my articles in
Prosveshcheniye . [1]

You are vacillating and “searching” for something. It’s wrong. You should
understand the Programme and stand for it.

Write me a criticism of my articles in Prosveshcheniye , and
we’ll talk it over.

It is shameful to stand for an official language. It is a police-regime
idea. But there is not a shadow of police-regime practice in
advocating Russian for small nations. Don’t you understand the
difference between the truncheon and the advocacy of a free man? Amazing!

“ I exaggerate the danger of Great-Russian nationalism”!!! Now that’s
really funny! Do the 160 millions in Russia suffer from Armenian
or Polish nationalism? Is it not a shame for a Russian
Marxist to adopt the point of view of an Armenian hen-coop? Is it
Great-Russian nationalism that oppresses and shapes the policy of
Russia’s ruling classes, or is it Armenian, Polish?? “Armenian” blindness
makes you a Handlanger of the Purishkeviches and their nationalism!

To change the subject. Collect immediately and send me exact
information:
1) on the time and frequency of publication in the Caucasus of
Social-Democratic newspapers in Georgian, Armenian and other languages
(from such-and-such a date to...). So many issues. Liquidators ’
and ours .
2) Circulation of each of them.
3) The number of workers’ groups which have made donations.
4) Other information. Hurry. It is facts that Vienna needs, not
phrases. Answer immediately.

Yours,
V. I.