V. I.

Lenin

Dear Comrade, It is impossible to lecture at the club about the
conference which took place, because this will mean publicity,
something the organisers of the conference fear more than
anything, and specially asked to avoid in every possible
way. [1] Consequently, the subject must be changed. I haven’t a clear idea of who will be present at the
internationalist club, [2] and therefore find it difficult to choose
a subject. I suggest the following: if it is essential to name
the subject beforehand, choose some vague title (“Current
Affairs” or “Urgent Problems of the Working-Class
Movement”, etc.), so that everything could be brought under
it. Meanwhile I shall take advice in Geneva, and will prepare for the morning of the 2nd a small report or opening
to a discussion.

Au revoir , Yours, Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
A reference to the enlarged conference of the International Socialist
Commission held in Berne from February 5 to 9, 1916. Lenin took
an active part in the work of the conference: he wrote the “Draft
Resolution on the Convocation of the Second Socialist
Conference” = and the delegation’s proposals on the terms of
representation at the conference (see present edition, Vol. 22, pp. 121–22).
Lenin criticised the false internationalism of the Mensheviks;
spoke on the discussion of the draft appeal of the I.S.C., “To All
Affiliated Parties and Groups”; tabled amendments to the draft
of the appeal and made a statement on behalf of the Bolsheviks
and the Territorial Executive of the Social-Democratic Party
of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania against inviting
Kautsky, Haase and Bernstein to the Second International Socialist
Conference.

Soon after the conference, Lenin circulated among the Bolshevik
groups abroad a brief about the meeting, instructing them to
start immediate preparations for the forthcoming Second
International Socialist Conference.

[2]
The internationalist club was organised at Geneva in December
1915 by Left-wing internationalist émigrés.