V. I.

Lenin

73

To:   V. A. KARPINSKY

Dear Karpinsky, I am taking advantage of this messenger to speak openly.

There is every ground for expecting that the Swiss police
and military authorities (at the first signal from the
Russian or French Ambassador, etc.) will bring us before a
military tribunal or expel us for breach of neutrality, etc.
Therefore don’t write anything openly in your letters. If
you have to communicate anything, write in chemicals (the
sign of chemicals is the date on the letter underlined).

We have decided to publish the attached manifesto, instead of the not very readable
theses. [1] Let us know when you get it, calling the manifesto “The Development of
Capitalism”.

It ought to be published. But we advise you to do this only on condition that you take (are able to take) the
maximum precautions!!

No one should know where and by whom it was publisher!.
All rough copies should be burned!! The copies printed should be kept only by some influential Swiss citizen,
deputy and so forth.

If this is impossible, don’t print it.

If it cannot be printed, do it on a mimeograph (also with the greatest precautions). Reply: I have received the
development of capitalism ( in so many ) copies==I shall
reprint it in so many copies.

If it cannot be published, either in print or mimeographed,
write immediately. We shall think of something else.
Reply in as much detail as possible.

( If you succeed in publishing it, send us here by hand
3/4 of the copies; we shall find somewhere to keep them.)

I await a reply!

Yours, Lenin

N.B. [[

P.S. We shall find the money for the publication.
Only write beforehand, how much will be needed, because there is very little money. Could not the 170
francs from the Committee of Organisations
Abroad [2] be used for this purpose?