The desire of the Petersburg Committee to have its own separate organ came as a novelty to the Central Committee. It is incomprehensible why this question should have arisen just at a time when our own printing press is being set up, when negotiations have begun with the Inter-District Organisation to enlist Comrade Trotsky for the publication of a popular organ.

In the West, in capital cities or large industrial centres, local and central organs are not separated. Such separation is harmful because it wastes energy. A separate organ of the Petersburg Committee, distinct from the Central Organ, is inexpedient. Petersburg, as a separate locality, does not exist. Petersburg is the geographical, political and revolutionary centre of the whole of Russia. The whole of Russia follows the life of Petersburg. Every step taken by Petersburg is a guiding example for the whole of Russia. Proceeding from this, the life of the Petersburg Committee cannot be made a local life.

Why not accept the Central Committee's proposal to set up a press commission? In the history of the press in the West, where such commissions existed, there were, of course, misunderstandings between the editorial board of the organ and the commission, but they arose exclusively on the grounds of the principled conduct of the organ. What principled political motives for conflict exist between the Petersburg Committee and the Central Committee? Regardless of its desire, the organ of the Petersburg Committee will always be a guiding organ of the party.

Experience with setting up its own separate organ will quickly convince the Petersburg Committee that it is impossible to lock itself into local life. The Central Committee does not deny the need for the Petrograd organisation to have a considerable place in the newspapers to meet its needs. The Central Committee does not deny the need for a popular organ to explain our slogans to the broad masses. But launching a popular newspaper is complicated and requires great experience. That is why the Central Committee is enlisting Comrade Trotsky, who succeeded in launching his popular organ, *Russkaya Gazeta*,{92} to take part in the setting up of the popular newspaper.

In the history of the West, the question of a popular organ was not posed as sharply as it is here. The level of the masses in the West rose more steadily thanks to the cultural and educational work carried on among them by the liberals. In countries like Czechia and Bohemia, popular organs exist. The task of a popular organ is to raise the reader to an understanding of the guiding party organ. If we do not launch a popular organ, the masses will be taken over by other parties and they will speculate on them. A popular