Dear friend!

Here is an article (a very good one!) on this subject (translate it and forward the article to Russia).

We shall keep silent on the question of restoring the International and remain on the sidelines.

We must bide our time. The German Left 41 are stirring: if a split occurs among them, then perhaps the International may be saved from rotting...

You are mistaken about the slogan of “peace”, thinking that the bourgeoisie does not want to hear of it. Today I read the English *Economist*. The intelligent bourgeois of an advanced country are for peace (to strengthen capitalism, of course) 42. But we must not allow ourselves to be confused with the petty bourgeois, sentimental liberals, etc. The era of the bayonet has arrived. That is a fact, which means we must fight with such weapons too.

The slogan of peace will be taken up tomorrow or the day after by the German bourgeoisie and especially the opportunists. We must stand for the slogan of the revolutionary proletariat, capable of fighting for its own goals, and that is precisely civil war. That too is a very concrete slogan, and only on it do the basic orientations emerge unmistakably: for the proletarian cause or for the bourgeois.

Concerning the debt to the Swedes, neither I nor Nadezhda Konstantinovna remember anything at all. But I quite possibly did not know or have forgotten 43. Therefore, some kind of polite, thankful letter aimed at having this debt “donated” would be very good. I think you yourself could very well do it — on behalf of the St. Petersburg Committee, for example, plus several Social-Democratic deputies who authorised you in Petersburg. That is the best form, in my opinion. And regarding the loan for you, I think you should act in the same way.

I would not advise putting forward a letter from me (factional squabbles would arise!!!). If you insist, I will send a letter, but my advice is: don’t. Without me they will give it to you more readily, really! Refer to Petrovsky, get a letter from him (if necessary), that’s better, honestly!

I firmly, firmly shake your hand and wish you all the best!

Yours, N. Lenin

P. S. If Kollontai translates into German the manifesto of the Central Committee (from No. 33 of the Central Organ), perhaps you could send us a copy?

P. S. On the question of the slogan of “peace”. An interesting article by Bernstein in the latest issue of *Neue Zeit* shows that in England, where the bourgeoisie is the most intelligent, most free, and so on, there is a current in favour of peace from the standpoint of arch-opportunism. That is, peace better guarantees “social peace”, i.e., the subordination of the proletariat to the bourgeoisie, the pacification of the proletariat, the continued existence of capitalism. Bernstein does not develop this. But it is obvious that there are many such peacemakers among the liberal and radical bourgeois in all countries. Add to this (1) that all chauvinists are also for peace (only on what conditions) — but in the censored press they will not allow talk of our conditions!! (2) that the German and Russian courts are also (secretly today, semi-openly tomorrow) for a separate peace with each other; (3) that all sentimental bourgeois and philistines are “for peace” from an anti-revolutionary, philistine, slavish, etc., point of view.

The question is, objectively, into whose hands will the slogan of peace now play? In any case, not into the propaganda of the ideas of the revolutionary proletariat! Not into the idea of using the war to accelerate the collapse of capitalism!

Add the victory of the opportunist-chauvinists in almost all countries: only these people will be helped to extricate themselves by the slogan of peace!