REMARKS ON THE ARTICLE "PACIFISM OR
MARXISM (MISADVENTURES OF A SLOGAN)"
[Not later than July 1, 1915]
Return this sheet to me (needed for the reverse side)1.
Notes to Your article:
very interesting
P. 1 – No. 1 "for the struggle against bourgeois
main thought of the ar- influence on the labor movement
ticle, but it could be slight- from within socialism."
ly reworked: it will turn out excellent.
– No. 2 – "supposedly-socialist"...
P. 2 – No. 2 – "in words an opponent"
»
3 – No. 1 – insert: "for recognition of the class struggle
during the war without recognition of civil war is a lie, deception ...".
Passim *: in the text sometimes leave "social-pacifism",
and in the title "bourgeois pacifism" and say somewhere
that it is one and the same thing.
P. 9 – No. 1 – "absolutely not" instead of "in any case not".
»
» From the words "they will say" – rework this paragraph. For it is in this
argument that the "Gaponade" of the Nashe Slovo-ites2 is clear. Going to the Tsar
is also more understandable to the masses. But this is a deception. And just such a deception, that a "good" (democratic) peace is possible without
revolution.
P. 9, line 1 from bottom. Throw out "one demand is illegal,"
it smells of concession to Trotsky. Say: we knew how to go
to the Gapon-ites, we will also go to the demonstration for peace,
but we will say our own thing, from the mood in favor of peace, to call for revolution, and not to lull with promises of a kind peace.
P. 10 No. 1 "The point is not" throw out. Say: S.-D. Trotsky
&
Ko
put themselves on the level of priests.
No. 2 throw out this phrase.
P. 10, line 3 from bottom – change this phrase.
* – Everywhere, in a number of cases.

P. 13 – No. 1 insert that it is naked and meaningless, for
in general for peace both Nicholas II and Wilhelm II3.
N. B.
You cannot leave German phrases and words untranslated in a newspaper for Russian workers!! Really, this is Bundism of the worst
kind!!!
It's better to do without German words altogether, really, better.
1 This document is a commentary on the article by G. E. Zinoviev "Pacifism or Marxism (The Misadventures of a Slogan),"
published in No. 44 of the newspaper "Social-Democrat" on August 23, 1915.
The article was directed against the bourgeois-pacifist slogan of peace,
which the Menshevik newspaper "Nashe Slovo" widely promoted.
Considering the article insufficiently worked out, V. I. Lenin, in addition to these remarks, repeatedly returns to it in letters and makes
additional proposals. He demands that the criticism of the pacifist slogan of peace be strengthened and show that Marxists, unlike bourgeois
pacifists, understand the "inevitable connection between wars and the struggle of classes within
the country" (see Full Collected Works, vol. 26, p. 311), proposes to explain
in the text that "social-pacifism" and "bourgeois pacifism" are one and the same,
emphasizes that the Bolsheviks will call for revolution, and not preach the ideas of a "kind peace."
"I do not agree with the end of Your article (about "Nashe Slovo")," he writes, "It is necessary to attack 100 times more sharply the "peace" in the presentation of "Nashe
Slovo." Do not justify yourself ("the point is not," "we recognize"), but attack:
the Nashe Slovo-ites give empty phrases about "peace," and seek
peace with social- chauvinists. The essence of their slogan is that peace is peace with social-
chauvinists. It is necessary to note (and develop) that peace without conditions is *nonsens*, a phrase, nonsense. Then it is necessary to develop that peace has a different meaning for the unenlightened masses (*à la* "Gaponade"), but as a party slogan it is charlatanism. We are for participation in Gapon unions, but against "Gapon" slogans. I advise you to correspond further about this" (ibid., vol. 49, p. 93). V. I. Lenin's remarks were taken into account by the author.
The remarks are written on the reverse side of the handwritten page of Lenin's article
"The Collapse of the Second International" (see ibid., vol. 26, p. 243).
G. E. Zinoviev (Radomyslsky) - was a member of the party since 1901.
During the years of reaction, he took a conciliatory attitude toward the liquidators, recallists, and Trotskyists. During the preparation and conduct of the October Socialist Revolution, he opposed the armed uprising. After
the October Socialist Revolution, he held a number of responsible posts.
He repeatedly opposed Lenin's party policy.
In 1934, he was expelled from the ranks of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) for anti-party activities.
2 "Gaponade" - named after the priest Gapon (see this collection, p. 138).
Nashe Slovo-ites - supporters of the Menshevik newspaper "Nashe Slovo,"
published with the close participation of Trotsky in Paris from January
1915 to September 1916.
3 Wilhelm II (Hohenzollern) - German Emperor and King of Prussia (1888-1918).