V. I.

Lenin

Dear Alexander, The conference is over, its manifesto has been published
(May 1). [2] I hope you receive Berner Tagwacht —or some
other Swiss paper? If not, drop us a line, and we shall send
you the French text.

Grigory is preparing a circumstantial letter about the conference, and this will be sent to you.

After all, a manifesto was adopted: that is a step forward, because it was accepted by the French deputies (three,
one of them the semi-chauvinist
Brizon). [3] A resolution criticising pacifism, and a resolution on the International
Socialist Bureau, sharply criticising it, were adopted. On
the whole, this is none the less , despite the mass of defects,
a step towards a break with the social-patriots.

This time the Left was stronger: a Serb, three Swiss and
a Frenchman (not a deputy; not from any group, but on his own) reinforced our Left. Then there were two Germans
(from the Internationale group) [4] who supported us on
the main questions.

Have you seen the Huysmans manifesto? It contains an unmistakable malicious “hint” about us! The
Braunschweig Volksfreund gave him a good answer.

As regards the
Japanese, [5] we have decided to make another, and, I hope, final, attempt to reach agreement:
(1) all the old agreements (verbal) are cancelled; (2) an
agreement between the Central Organ’s editorial board, which edits the issue, and the publishers to be concluded
from issue to issue, i.e., for each issue separately; (3) No. 3
to be published at Berne (clearly it is impossible at
Stockholm).

Try and see whether it will come off or not. If not, we
shall publish Sbornik Sotsial-Demokrata . We can’t wait. [6]

Here is the plan for No. 3:

1) Material from Russia (up to 3 sheets).

2) Theses of the Central Organ’s editorial board on
self-determination.

3) Lenin’s article on the same subject.

4) The 2nd Zimmerwald Conference. Grigory Zinoviev
or Lenin.

5) Bukharin: an economic subject.

6) Lyalin on the high cost of living.

7) Alexander—from Russia.

8) A Serb and an Italian have promised articles.

9) Russian themes—Grigory Zinoviev.

10) Radek—continuation (? hardly worth while. In
my opinion, no). [1]

10) Kollontai—from America.

11) A Lett.

12) Varin.

13) The women’s labour movement.

14) Book reviews.

15) About Trotsky, Martov and the Chkheidze group....

Think it over, probe the ground , get the facts, as tactfully as possible, and reply as soon as you
can. [7]

All the best, and wishes for every success.

Yours, Lenin

P.S. As Nadya has already written, I agree with you on the Jewish
miscellany. [8] Nadya has repeatedly written to Berne for the material. Regards to Alexandra
Mikhailovna!

Yours, Lenin