V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:LS/v37; en:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek deepseek-v4-pro) from the Russian; AI-translated.

LETTER TO INESSA ARMAND
July 2, 1916

Dear Friend, You seem very depressed and nervous over the failure. But don’t lose heart. The unpleasantness at the German consulate is a trifle; is it worth bothering about? And what don’t all emigrants have to put up with in their dealings with the authorities!

Ganetsky told me that his wife had been allowed to travel through Germany and that the application should be sent to the military authorities in Munich (Oberkommando der Armee in München*: that’s what it must be). I would therefore advise, if you want to get to Norway, to do this: write to the German consulate in Bern (enclosing a stamped envelope for reply) that your acquaintances have told you of precedents for permitting women—subjects of countries at war with Germany—to travel through Germany, and that the application should be addressed to the Oberkommando in Munich. You ask them to confirm this procedure and give you the exact address of the Oberkommando in Munich. It is possible that the scoundrels will be scared that you know the procedure and will reply.

If they don’t reply, I advise you to write anyway to Munich at this address, by registered mail, in German; in three or four days send them a telegram with reply paid; write that you are going to see your children, that you are an emigrant who fled from trial on a Social-Democratic case. Dryly, factually.

If they don’t reply, you can travel via France and England. We’ll get you a loan if necessary, don’t worry.

It’s not worth applying to the Swiss socialists. There are no other “connections”.

I have written to Olga and sent her a letter for Guilbeaux. Thanks for the newspapers.

I firmly press your hand and wish you more calm and more trips, if not around Europe, then around Switzerland and the mountains.

Yours, Lenin

* Don’t spare 30 centimes, send the same letter by registered mail to the German consulate in Zurich.