Dear Comrade Herman!

It seems to me that an important moment is approaching in relation to the Latvian Social Democrats and the RSDLP (in the person of the Central Committee - to our part of the RSDLP - if it pleases your legitimists, who wish to "take into account" the liquidators a little).

Here clarity and honesty are needed.

In 1911-1914, the Latvians (their Central Committee) were liquidators.

At the 1914 congress,* they came out as opponents of liquidationism, but neutral between the OC and the Central Committee.

Now, after Brussels, after resolution No. 32 of *Trudovaya Pravda* 349, the Latvians want to join our party, to conclude an agreement with the Central Committee.

Is this good?

It is good if one clearly understands what is being done and honestly approaches it.

* At the IV Congress of the Social Democracy of the Latvian Territory. Ed.

It is bad if one does so without clear understanding, without firm resolve, and without considering the consequences.

Those who want legitimacy in the sense of restoring the Stockholm-London (1906-1907) RSDLP, would do better not to join our party: nothing but squabbles, disappointments, offenses, and mutual hindrances will result. This was a "federation of the worst type" (as stated in the resolution of the January conference of the RSDLP 1912) 350. This is rot. Away with this rot!

If one wants to defend the remnants of federalism (e.g., the Stockholm Agreement and the delegation from the Latvian Central Committee to the Russian Central Committee 351), then there is no need to make a fuss! We, in my opinion, will not go for this. This is a game, a Tyszkiewicz-style diplomacy (which the scoundrels from the Polish opposition, who switched sides at Brussels to the liquidators, now imitate), and not a united effort. Do we have a principled agreement? Yes or no? If yes, we must go together against (1) liquidationism, - (2) "nationalism" (= (a) "cultural-national autonomy" and (b) Bundist separatism), - (3) against federalism.

We openly and clearly, before all the workers of Russia, unfurled these banners in January 1912. A considerable amount of time has passed. One could and should have sorted things out.

Let us then negotiate - if we are to negotiate - clearly and honestly. Playing hide-and-seek, in my opinion, is inappropriate and unworthy. We are waging a serious war: against us are all bourgeois intellectuals, liquidators, nationalists, and Bundist separatists, open and covert federalists. Either we conclude an agreement against all these enemies, or it is better to postpone.

Better to limit ourselves to an engagement than to bind ourselves in marriage if there is no full confidence in the strength of the union!!

All this is my personal opinion.

But I very much want to come to an agreement with you and achieve clarity. If in Brussels we agreed on the main points, - we can and must ask ourselves, without diplomacy, whether we can agree on a solid contract.

I am very concerned that a part of the Latvians are for cultural-national autonomy or are wavering,
for Bundist federalism or are wavering, are wavering to stand up against nationalism and Bundist separatism,
are wavering to support our demand to close the liquidator newspaper of the disorganizers' circle in Petersburg 352, and so on.

How large is this part? - generally and among the members of the Central Committee? - among workers and among intellectuals?

Is it influential?

After all, we are waging the struggle against the liquidators in Petersburg and in Russia. What to do if you, in conscience, cannot help us wage war against the liquidators and the Bundists?? Then, concluding a solid agreement would be dishonest and simply unwise!

And now, this despicable wavering of the Polish opposition behind the liquidators (voting for the Brussels resolution) 353, behind nationalism (recognizing cultural-national autonomy as a "disputed point"), behind federalism (demanding the old, Tyszkiewicz, 1906 agreement with P.S.D.).

Clarity, clarity above all! Those who have not clarified their position and the conditions of the war of proletarian democracy against the bourgeoisie (= liquidators and nationalists) would do better to wait.

I would like to know your opinion!

Yours, Lenin

I would be very glad to learn the opinion of "Paragraph" on these issues. Show him the letter!
(Please give "the 14 points" of our Central Committee* to Rude for a day, for reading.)