V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v50; ru:LS/v4;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

V. I. LENIN

3

AGAINST THE POGROM-MONGERS

April 1917

TO THE WORKERS, SOLDIERS AND ALL THE POPULATION OF PETROGRAD

Citizens! The newspaper *Russkaya Volya*, founded by the tsarist minister Protopopov and despised even by the Cadets, is conducting a pogrom campaign against our Party, against the newspaper *Pravda*, against our comrades Lenin and Zinoviev, against the St. Petersburg Committee of our Party, which is housed in the Kshesinskaya Palace.

We have received a number of reports, not only verbal but also written, of threats of violence, bombs, etc.

From the very first days of the revolution, the capitalists, who have disguised themselves as “republicans”, have been trying to sow discord between the workers and the soldiers.

First they slandered the workers, alleging that they wanted to leave the army without bread. Now they are trying to incite a campaign against *Pravda*.

We appeal to the honour of the revolutionary workers and soldiers of Petrograd and declare:

Not only have we not made a single threat, direct or indirect, of violence against individuals, but on the contrary, we have always declared that our task is to explain our views to the entire people, that we consider the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies, elected by all the workers and soldiers, to be the only possible revolutionary government.

The comrades of various parties who travelled through Germany made a report on the very first day of their arrival to the trusted representatives of all the workers and soldiers, namely, to the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies.

In this Executive Committee were

Chkheidze, Tsereteli, Skobelev, Steklov and others.

Comrades! These leaders of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies do not share our views on many questions of state organisation.

They could not have acted out of favouritism towards us.

What did the Executive Committee do?

It published the full report on the journey through Germany in its *Izvestia*, No. 32, of April 5, 1917.

In this report all the facts and the names of the foreign socialists of two neutral countries, Switzerland and Sweden, who verified our protocols, are given.

What did the Executive Committee decide? Did it express condemnation or even dissatisfaction with the journey of Lenin and others through Germany?

No. The editors of *Izvestia*, in the same issue, set forth the decision of the Executive Committee as follows:

“The Executive Committee, after hearing the report of Comrades Zurabov and Zinoviev, decided to appeal immediately to the Provisional Government and to take measures for the immediate passage of all emigrants to Russia, regardless of their political views and attitude to the war. We shall inform you of the results of the negotiations with the government in the next few days. Ed.”

Everyone can see that there is not a word here against Lenin and his comrades. Here a warning is given to the Provisional Government, here it is decided to take measures to prevent it from hindering the passage to Russia.

And after this, Martov’s telegram and the arrest of Trotsky in England proved that Milyukov is powerless against England and France, which keep their socialist internationalists in prison, or that Milyukov does not want to take serious measures.

Exchanges between Russians and Germans took place dozens of times during the war.

Member of the State Council Kovalevsky was exchanged for an Austrian, etc.

For rich people, the governments arranged exchanges more than once. Why does the present government not want to arrange an exchange for the emigrants? Because it wants to cut off a number of fighters from the possibility of participating in the revolutionary struggle.

What is *Russkaya Volya* and the newspapers that follow in its footsteps, such as *Rech* and *Yedinstvo*, doing?

They continue the persecution, thereby inciting ignorant people to violence against individuals, and they do not print either the report or the decision of the Executive Committee!...

The Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies has been informed of the names of a number of socialists who verified and approved every step of the emigrants connected with the journey.

These are: the French socialists Loriot and Guilbeaux, the Swiss socialist Platten, the Swedish socialists Lindhagen (Mayor of Stockholm), Carlsson, Ström, Nerman, the German socialist from the group of Karl Liebknecht, Harstein [Levi], the Polish socialist Bronski.

Such behaviour of *Russkaya Volya*, *Rech*, *Yedinstvo* is aiding the dark forces that threaten violence, pogrom, bomb.

Comrades, soldiers and workers!

We warn you against the gentlemen of *Russkaya Volya*, *Rech*, *Yedinstvo* and declare again and again: we are for explaining the views of all parties to the entire people, we are for respect for the Soviet of Soldiers’ and Workers’ Deputies.

If the Provisional Government, if the newspaper *Rech*, if Mr. Plekhanov are dissatisfied with the behaviour of the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies, why do they not declare this openly? Why do they not demand a review? Why are they afraid to reprint what was said in *Izvestia of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies*, No. 32? Why?—Because they want to create confusion!

If violence is applied in one form or another, we place the responsibility on the editor and staff of *Russkaya Volya*, *Rech*, *Yedinstvo*, etc., who dare not to print the report and decision of the Executive Committee and to conduct a dark persecution.

The newspaper *Delo Naroda*, in which Minister A. F. Kerensky takes a close part, has already pointed out that the methods of the said newspapers help the pogrom-mongers. (*Delo Naroda*, No. 23.)

Let the Milyukovs, Amfiteatrovs, Plekhanovs and company know that if violence begins as a result of their persecution, it will turn, first of all, against them.

Down with pogrom agitation! Down with the heroes of persecution and deception, who conceal the decisions of the Executive Committee!

Comrades, soldiers and workers!

You will not allow the freedom of the people to be darkened by pogroms! You will secure respect for the decisions of your Soviet of Soldiers’ and Workers’ Deputies!