V. I.

Lenin

Dear Friend, I (and Nadezhda Konstantinovna) have had a letter
from Kollontai. We are going to reply to her.

My letters to you, I am sure, are being lost or delayed:
I have written more than once through Kobetsky. Inquire
once again.

We have received your manuscript, and intend to publish
it in the C.O. (or as a pamphlet). [1]

Do you read Golos ? It already shows signs of
Martov’s turnabout [2] —Axelrod’s efforts to “reconcile” (Martov with
Südekum, i.e., Plekhanov)—and next to that Trotsky “ against ” an “amnesty”!

What a mess! And they dare abuse us for “factionalism” (while making peace with social-chauvinism for the sake of
factionalism!). An unpleasant and tiresome picture.

If you attend the conference, [3] be on your guard. If you do speak, I advise you to repeat your Stockholm speech,
adding that the entry of the Belgians and the French into
the government is also betrayal (even if with extenuating
circumstances). Otherwise they will think that out of Russian chauvinism we are abusing only the Germans.

In my opinion it is not worth while sending a report, it should not be done .

What should be done, for information (only)—and on behalf of Litvinov (Litvinoff. 76. High Street. 76.
Hampstead. London. N.W.)—is to send a full translation of the
manifesto and of the report of the arrest of the 5 (and the
11). I hope you have already had an exchange of letters
with Litvinov?

All good Wishes, Yours, Lenin

P.S. What did Kollontai think of the “document” [4] and the latest issues (80–86 and the following) of Golos ?

P.S. I have just read that the conference is to take place
on January 17, and that the Swiss Party has refused . I think
that, if that is the case, it is better not to participate at all .

P.P.S. Kautsky, in the Labour Leader , is for the slogan of peace . [5] There is my reply to Comrade Kollontai! I
wonder if she will still be in favour of this watchword
now.

---
Notes:
[1]
An apparent reference to a report “Working-Class Petersburg
and the War (A St. Petersburg Worker’s Notes on the Early
Stages of the War)”, published in the magazine Kommunist
No. 1–2, 1915.

[2]
A reference to L. Martov’s letter to the Golos Editorial Board,
“About My Imaginary Solitude” ( Golos No. 87, December 23,
1914). The letter and his report on “The War and the Crisis of
Socialism”, read in Berne on December 16, 1914, marked Martov’s
retreat from his stand in the early stages of the war.

[3]
A reference to the Conference of Socialists of Neutral Countries
held in Copenhagen on January 17 and 18, 1915, in which the
Social-Democratic parties of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and
Holland took part. Lenin was against the R.S.D.L.P. C.C.
sending an official representative to the Conference.

[4]
An apparent reference to the appeal of the St. Petersburg
liquidators: “To Minister Vandervelde, Belgium.”

[5]
A reference to a questionnaire in The Labour Leader No. 52,
December 24, 1914, on the question of peace, called “Peace
and Goodwill Shall yet Reign. Messages of Fraternity Across the
Battlefields”. =

Kautsky’s views headed the list.