V. I.

Lenin

549

To:   INESSA ARMAND

Dear Friend, I haven’t had a single line from you for a long time. You promised
almost a week ago to write “tomorrow”—and not a sound. Has there been
anything special to prevent it? Drop me at least a line, if you aren’t in a
writing mood, otherwise I feel worried.

Re 1.II, I wrote you briefly, if I am not mistaken.

On 3.II there was a meeting (strictly private) between Grimm and his
friends+Nobs and Platten. (Münzenberg and Bronski were invited, but
refused to go to these Zentrumsleute, and a good thing too.) Nobs and
Platten are weak-willed men (if not worse), and are dead “afraid” of
Grimm.

They adopted some amendments to the resolution (of course, Grimm
“tricked” Nobs and Platten). I haven’t seen these amendments yet. They
should be published tomorrow (Thursday). [2] On the whole, the Lefts here, I must say, are
super-trash.

Yesterday there was a meeting (meetings tire me; nerves no good at all;
headaches; left before the end)—a general meeting. Re-elected the
executive of the whole Zurich organisation. Elected Bronski
too . And would you believe it—the social-patriot scoundrels
(with Baumann at the head) got up and walked out. [1]

We don’t want to work with Bronski!!

And Nobs+Platten swallowed the pill and put through a postponement!!
What a disgrace!! And these are Lefts!! And the Young are “afraid” of
Nobs and Platten!!

I hear that Humbert-Droz has lectured already in Geneva and is seducing
the young people with his idiotic pacifism. It would be a good thing if you
gave him a number of public battles, politely but firmly pointed out to him
the

whole infamy of pacifism, its whole staggering banality, and put forward a
revolutionary programme!

All the very best, Yours, Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
See present edition, Vol. 23, p. 285.— Ed .

[2]
This refers to “Abänderungsanträge zu der Resolution der Mehrheit
der Militärkommission” (Proposed Amendments to the Resolution by the
Majority of the Commission on the War Issue) published in
Volksrecht , February 9, 1917 (No. 34). This document was signed,
among others, by Grimm, Nobs and Platten. The original draft of the
majority, rejecting “defence of the fatherland”, was published in
Volksrecht , January 9, 1917 (No. 7) over the signatures of
Affolter, Graber, Name, Nobs and Schmid.