V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v49; en:MT;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

17/30 August 1917. Dear Friends! With great difficulty, after long weeks of a forced interruption, it seems possible to restore correspondence. Of course, for this to succeed fully, you must make every effort and work hard to organise it from your end.

The vile campaign of slander raised by the bourgeoisie concerning the alleged espionage or involvement in it of Ganetsky, Kollontai and many others is, of course, a despicable cover for the campaign against the internationalists by our brave “republicans”, who wish to “distinguish themselves favourably” from tsarism by slander.

(1) I read somewhere in the Russian newspapers that Ganetsky and Radek are issuing a denial. I do not know if this is true. But it is necessary. It is necessary, firstly, that Radek write to Paris and obtain the records of the last Parisian (of the various factions of the RSDLP) court trial of him. Lunacharsky, castigating the despicable slanderers, already told of this trial long ago in *Novaya Zhizn*. But that is not enough. It is necessary to try to obtain the records or at least the full verdict of the court and, if it is impossible to publish it, to have it typed in several copies and sent here. If it is impossible to obtain the records or the verdict, it would be desirable to obtain at least a written account of the trial from one of the Parisians who participated in it, and to publish at least a small pamphlet in Russian (there is a Russian printing press in Christiania), in order to refute the vile slanders with documents. Even if it is only possible to get the pamphlet across in small quantities, extracts from it must appear in *Arbeiterpolitik*, in *Politiken*, in *Demain*, etc.

(2) It is equally necessary for Ganetsky to refute the slanderers with documents, by publishing as soon as possible a financial account of his trading and his “affairs” with Sumenson (who is this person? I hear of her for the first time!) and with Kozlovsky (it is desirable that the account be verified and certified by the signature of a Swedish notary or of several Swedish socialists, members of parliament). It is also necessary to print the text of the telegrams (they have already appeared in the Russian newspapers, in *Russkaya Volya*, in *Bez Lishnikh Slov*, etc., but probably not in full) and to analyse and explain each one.

Against this vile Dreyfusard affair, against this slander, we must fight by issuing a pamphlet as quickly as possible, sparing no effort, trouble or money, in order to brand the slanderers and, as far as possible, help those arrested on this vile slanderous charge.

(3) What is the financial situation of the foreign bureau appointed by our Central Committee? After the July persecutions, it is clear that our CC cannot help (I think so, at least). Write whether you have managed to collect anything through the Swedish Left and whether the bureau will continue to exist. And the bulletin? How many issues have been published and in what languages? Did Guilbeaux have all the issues? Do you have a complete set of *Demain*? Was the bulletin delivered to America, North and South? Write about all this in more detail.

(4) By the way. I do not remember who reported it, but it seems that in Stockholm, after Grimm and independently of him, Moor appeared. That the scoundrel Grimm, as a “centrist” Kautskyite, proved capable of a despicable rapprochement with “his” minister does not surprise me: whoever does not break decisively with the social-chauvinists always risks falling into this despicable position. But what sort of man is Moor? Is it fully and absolutely proven that he is an honest man? that he never has had and does not have any direct or indirect connection with the German social-imperialists? If it is true that Moor is in Stockholm and if you know him, then I would very, very much ask, earnestly ask, insistently ask you to take all measures for the strictest and most documentary verification of this. There is no room here, i.e., there must be no room, for even a shadow of suspicion, reproach, rumour, etc.

I very much regret that the “Zimmerwald Commission” did not condemn Grimm more severely! It should have been more severe!

(5) I was and remain absolutely opposed to participation in the Stockholm Conference.

I must note that I am writing this entire letter personally on my own behalf, since I have had no opportunity either to ask the CC or even to communicate with it. Therefore, when replying to me in particular detail, append to your letter an official, detailed, businesslike, documentary report from you (as the entire bureau) to the CC, and I will forward it.

So, I am absolutely against participation in the Stockholm Conference. Kamenev’s statement (have you seen *Novaya Zhizn*? you must subscribe to it) I consider the height of stupidity, if not baseness, and I have already written about this to the CC and for the press. Fortunately, Kamenev spoke only for himself and was disavowed by another Bolshevik.

I consider participation in the Stockholm Conference and in any other together with the ministers (and scoundrels) Chernov, Tsereteli, Skobelev and their parties a direct betrayal, and I will come out in print with this opinion against anyone. If in the “Zimmerwald Commission” (judging by the report of the social-chauvinist Rozanov) it was possible almost to reject or half-reject Stockholm, that is very good. But “almost” and “half” are no good at all, and this whole “half”-social-chauvinist Zimmerwald Commission, dependent on the Italians and Ledebourites who desire “unity” with the social-chauvinists, is a most harmful institution.

(6) We are making a great, unforgivable mistake by delaying or postponing the convocation of a conference of the Left for the foundation of the Third International. It is precisely now, precisely when Zimmerwald is so shamefully wavering or forced into inaction, precisely now, while there still exists in Russia a legal (almost legal) internationalist party with more than 200,000 (240,000) members* (which nowhere else in the world exists during the war), precisely now we are obliged to convene a conference of the Left, and we will be outright criminals if we are late in doing this (the Bolshevik party in Russia is being driven underground more and more from day to day).

Money for the conference can be found. There is an opportunity to issue several numbers of its bulletin. There is a centre for it in Stockholm. There is a French support (*Demain*) and an English one (the Socialist Labor Party of America; its delegate, Reinstein**, was in Petrograd the other day, will probably be in Stockholm) – however, besides the S.L.P. (Socialist Labor Party of America) there is also English support, both Tom Mann in England and the minorities there in the British Socialist Party***, and the Scottish socialists, and *The International* in America.

It would be outright criminal to postpone the convocation of a conference of the Left now.

* 17 daily newspapers; 1,415,000 copies total weekly circulation; 320,000 daily.

** I have no idea what sort of bird this is. According to the newspapers, he greeted the “unity congress” of the Mensheviks!! So, a suspicious bird.

It would be immensely stupid to “wait” for a “large” number of participants and to be “shy” because there are “few” now. For now such a conference will be an ideological force, regardless of the number of participants, whereas later it could be silenced.

The Bolsheviks, the P.S.D., the Dutch, *Arbeiterpolitik*, *Demain* – that is already a sufficient nucleus. To it will certainly be added, if we act energetically, a part of the Danes (Trier and others, who left the party of the scoundrel Stauning), a part of the Swedish youth (we are sinning against them by not leading them, for they must be led), a part of the Bulgarians, the Left in Austria (“Franz”), a part of Loriot’s friends in France, a part of the Left in Switzerland (*International of Youth*) and in Italy, then the already mentioned elements of the Anglo-American movement.

The resolutions of the Bolshevik conference (24-29 April 1917) and of their congress (VII. 1917: see the resolutions in *Novaya Zhizn*), the draft of a new programme of this same party – that is already a sufficient ideological basis (with the addition of *Vorbote*, *Tribune*, *Arbeiterpolitik*, etc.) to come out before the whole world with clear answers to the questions of imperialism and with an accusation against the social-chauvinists and Kautskyites.

It is necessary to convene such a conference immediately, to create a provisional bureau for it, to print its appeal and draft resolutions in three languages for transmission to the parties.

I repeat once again: I am deeply convinced that, by not doing this now, we will make this work terribly difficult for ourselves in the future and will terribly facilitate an “amnesty” for the traitors to socialism.

(7) The ministerialism of the Russian Menshevik-“Zimmerwaldists” must be used especially to present an ultimatum to Zimmerwald in general: either a break with the Brantings, Huysmans and Co., or we walk out immediately. By the way: is *Arbeiterpolitik* conducting a campaign against Zetkin and against the Braunschweig *Volksfreund* for the fact that these scoundrels, for intriguer purposes, whitewashed and supported the Russian Mensheviks, Chkheidze and Co., who turned out to be ministerial scum like Sembat, Renaudel, Thomas and Co.?

Has even Mehring not yet understood all the vileness of Chkheidze, Tsereteli, Skobelev and Co.?

(8) It is necessary to arrange the forwarding of your letters here – I hope to receive immediately as detailed a letter as mine (otherwise I do not agree to correspondence) – and literature: at least complete sets from mid-June of *Arbeiterpolitik*, *Demain*, *Kampf* (Duisburg), *Weekly People* (S.L.P.), *Leipziger Volkszeitung*, *Neue Zeit*, *The Call* and others. Spartacus, publications of Loriot and his friends, *Avanti!* and so on and so forth. To begin with, at least send clippings.

(9) You must send here, as far as possible, weekly, firstly, articles for the provincial and Petrograd party press (surveys of the Left movement abroad, facts, facts, facts), – secondly, leaflets (of 4-8-16 pages) for publication as small pamphlets. Summaries of facts about the collapse of the International, about the disgrace of the social-chauvinists, about the disgrace of the Kautskyites, about the growth of the Left movement: at least 4 pamphlets on each of these topics of 16-32 pages each. Facts and facts. There is hope of publishing this.

Reply immediately whether you can undertake this. When sending by our method (legal sending is out of the question now), I think it does not matter what language it is written in.
(10) I hope you have a complete set of *Pravda*. You subscribe to *Novaya Zhizn*. If you do not have *Rabochy i Soldat* (closed down), *Proletarskoye Delo* (Kronstadt) and *Sotsial-Demokrat* (Moscow), write immediately, and I will send them as soon as the new route, being tried for the first time with this letter, is established.

P.S. 18 August. I have just received Nos. 1, 2, 4 of the new newspaper *Proletary*, the CC organ – it will, of course, soon be closed down. I will try to send them to you. I am sending Nos. 1-7.
20 August. I still have not managed to send the letter, and perhaps it will not be possible so soon.

So I am getting something like a diary instead of a letter! Nothing to be done. You must have a lot of patience and persistence if you want to communicate at all with the internationalists in the “freest” imperialist republic.

Today I learned from *Izvestia* that in Stockholm the *Izvestia of the Stockholm Information Bureau of the Council of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies* is appearing weekly. Try to send complete sets of all Stockholm publications. We see nothing.
25 August (7 September). It seems I will be able to send the letter tomorrow. Make every effort to arrange delivery from you. Reply immediately, at least briefly, to the address (inside your country) which the comrade delivering this letter to you (or his friend) will give you. He will also give you the cipher; as an experiment I am writing a few words in this cipher and ask you to reply to them in the same cipher*.

P.S. Write another pamphlet, 16-32 pages, about the secret diplomatic treaties of Russia: briefly, precisely, facts, facts. Such and such a treaty of such and such a date, month, year, content such and such. A list of treaties. A summary. Shorter and more factual. Reply whether you will undertake it, and when you will send it.

I conclude: for God’s sake, immediately a conference of the Left, a bureau of the Left, a bulletin of the bureau and appoint a second conference in 2 (1½) months.

Greetings! Lenin

To Stockholm