V. I.

Lenin

94

To:   A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV

August 23, 1915

Dear Alexander, As regards the plan of your journey, it is very hard for
me to give you definite advice from so far off. [2] Our
financial affairs are known to you. Nadezhda Konstantinovna has
written to you in detail (in addition to what was sent, 600
francs were promised before October 10+400 francs one month later. In all, 1,000 francs. For the time being there
is no hope of more).

On the one hand, extreme care is essential. Have you completely reliable papers? And all the rest?

On the other hand, it would be unquestionably useful for
the cause just now, if a fully-informed and independent
person travelled round two or three centres, made contacts,
established relations and immediately returned to Sweden,
to pass on all the contacts to us and to discuss the further
situation. This would be most important.

[[
Kommunist No. 1 will appear in 8–10 days; then, after as many more, No. 2 (or Nos. 1–2 together). No. 44 of the
Central Organ will appear in a day or two. A pamphlet about the war with all documents will come out in a
fortnight. It is already being set.

Events in Russia have completely endorsed our position,
which the social-patriot donkeys (from Alexinsky to
Chkheidze) have christened defeatism. The facts have proved that
we are right!! The military reverses are helping to shake
the foundations of tsarism, and facilitating an alliance of
the revolutionary workers of Russia and other countries.

People say: what will “you” do, if “you”, the revolutionaries,
defeat tsarism? I reply:
(1) our victory will fan the flames of the “Left” movement in Germany a hundredfold;
(2) if “we” defeated tsarism completely, we would propose peace to
all the belligerent powers on democratic terms and, if this
were rejected, we would conduct a revolutionary war.

It is clear that the advanced section of Pravdist workers,
that bulwark of our Party, has survived, in spite of terrible
devastations in its ranks. It would be extremely important
for leading groups to come together in two or three centres
( most conspiratively ), establish contact with us, restore a
Bureau of the Central Committee (one exists, I think, in
Petersburg already) and the C.C. itself in Russia. They
should establish firm ties with us ( if necessary , one or two
persons should be brought to Sweden for this purpose). We
would send news-sheets, leaflets, etc. The most important
thing is firm and constant relations.

Chkheidze and Co. are obviously shuffling: they are true
friends of Nashe Dyelo , Alexinsky is pleased with them
(I hope you have seen The War by Plekhanov+Alexinsky+
Co. There’s a disgrace!!) and yet they “play” at Leftism
with the help of Trotsky!! I don’t think they will succeed
in deceiving the class-conscious Pravdists.

Write what you decide. Greetings.

Yours, Lenin

P.S. Will A. Kollontai agree to help us arrange in the
U.S.A. for an edition of our pamphlet in
English [1]

?