V. I.

Lenin

131

To:   A. V. LUNACHARSKY [1]

Dear Comrade Anatoly Vasilyevich, As regards a conference, my personal opinion (I am sending on
your letter to Zinoviev) is that it is expedient now only between people
who are ready to warn the proletariat not only against the Gvozdyov
supporters, [2] but also against the waverings of Chkheidze .

In this, I believe, is the essence of our inner-Party and, if one may
use the term, near-Party situation.

It is just for this reason that I am not wasting time on a
single conference with Martov and Co.

Independence and separateness of our Party, no rapprochement with other parties , are indispensable conditions for me. Without this one
cannot help the proletariat to move through the democratic
revolution to the commune , and I would not serve any other ends.

I personally would be for a conference with people and groups
who agree on this basic point.

I should be very glad to have a talk with you, without any formal
conferences, and should consider it valuable for myself personally
(and for the cause).

With all my heart I congratulate you, too, and shake your hand, and
send greetings as well from N. K. to you both.

With fraternal greetings, Lenin

My address:

Wl. Uljanow. Spiegelgasse. 14 II (bei
Kammerer). Zürich. I.

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Notes:
[1]
This letter was written in reply to a letter from A. V. Lunacharsky,
who was to visit Zurich in March 1917 and had suggested to Lenin that there
should be a joint conference of Bolsheviks and Vperyod supporters. Lenin turned down the proposal.

[2]
Gvozdyov (see also Note 288) was leader of the so-called
“Workers’ Group” under the Central War Industries Committee, set up by
the Russian bourgeoisie in 1915.