V. I.

Lenin

Dear V. K., I am sending you the manifesto on account of five
amendments. Please make them in the proofs as carefully as
possible. [1]

I am also sending “A Reply to
Vandervelde” [2] — for setting .

As many articles as possible should be set in brevier .
We must get the maximum of material into the two pages.
It’s a pity that we hadn’t thought of this when sending
the manifesto for setting.

The whole question now is, how many thousands of letters can be got into the two pages? The C.O.’s old format
should be taken (there is no masthead in Geneva it is desirable to make up the new masthead as economically
as possible, so as to lose the least space: say, have the
masthead fit in a corner, instead of “covering” all three
columns).

We are waiting for an exact calculation of the size: how
many letters in brevier can be got in.

Best of all, send us both the proof of the manifesto (the
second proof) and samples of all types, including the very
smallest.

The masthead for the issue (this should be the next No.
of the C.O.) should also specify the price: 10 cts., I think.
In any case, it is essential to send us a proof of the issue
made up into pages.

If the whole thing could be set up in brevier, with the
C.O. format, we should have about 40,000 letters in the
two pages. We could then insert another couple of articles
which we are preparing. (If the manifesto has already been set, and in an unsuitable type, etc., we shall publish it
separately.)

You will have considerable correspondence expenses:
everything must be sent in envelopes, not in wrappers.
Keep a record of your postal expenses and draw upon the
“fund” (160 frs.), otherwise you will be ruined!

Ask Syoma to get us Sozialistische Monatshefte [all the
issues since the war ] from the Bundists: if necessary, we
shall pay, and will guarantee to return them at the time
fixed (even with a deposit, if required).

Best wishes, Yours, Lenin

P.S. Let me know when the two-page issue of the C.O.
can be ready. I shall be lecturing at Montreux shortly (I don’t know exactly when) and can call on you, should
it be necessary. [3]

---
Notes:
[1]
Lenin made five amendments in the manifesto of the C.C., R.S.D.L.P.,
which copy is now at the Central Party Archives of the Institute
of Marxism-Leninism of the C.C., C.P.S.U. The manifesto
was published under the title “The War and Russian
Social-Democracy” in the Central Organ of the R.S.D.L.P., Sotsial-Demokrat No. 33, November 1, 1914.

[2]
The Bolsheviks’ reply to E. Vandervelde’s telegram urging the
Duma Social-Democratic group to support the Russian
Government in the war against Germany. The reply signed by the C.C.
of the R.S.D.L.P. was published in Sotsial-Demokrat No. 33,
November 1, 1914. The Bolsheviks said they believed that in the
interests of democracy and socialism it was an urgent task of the
revolutionary proletarian party in the period of imperialist war
to extend and strengthen the class organisations of the workers
and to develop their class struggle against the imperialist
bourgeoisie and their own governments.

[3]
Lenin read his lecture on the war at Montreux (near Clarens) on
Monday, October 26, and in Zurich, on Tuesday, October 27,
1914.