In view of the crisis in the peace negotiations that occurred in mid-January 1918 new style, which definitively clarified the refusal of the allies to join the peace talks and the presentation by the Germans in Brest of an ultimatum demanding the annexation of Poland, Lithuania, etc., a number of leading party workers presented to the C.C. of the party a demand "to convene a meeting with workers from the localities to discuss the question of the international political situation in connection with the tactics of the proletarian party" (see also "Protocols of the C.C. of the R.S.D.L.P, August 1917 - February 1918." Giz. 1929, p. 287). The meeting of the C.C. of the party together with members of the fraction of the III All-Russian Congress of Soviets took place on January 24 (8), 1918, two days before the opening of the III Congress of Soviets. At it, Lenin read his "Theses on the Question of the Immediate Conclusion of a Separate or Annexationist Peace," written on January 20 (7), 1918. On the reverse side of the last three pages of the theses are notes, written in pencil by Lenin's hand, representing a record of the most essential points of the speakers' speeches. These notes are printed below under the letter "a".
Under the letter "b" are printed notes representing a processing of the initial record of the debates at the party meeting, in which Lenin writes out and summarizes the most important points from the original record. Judging by the fact that the notes are rewritten in ink, some points are clarified, written in a certain order, and there are symbols indicating the corresponding combination of points - it should be concluded that these notes were compiled not at the meeting itself, but after January 24 (8), but no later than January 24 (11), 1918, before the question of peace was discussed at the meeting of the C.C. These notes, apparently, were intended for use in oral and written speeches. Some arguments of opponents of the conclusion of a separate peace were later used by Lenin in the article "On the Revolutionary Phrase" (Works, Vol. XXII, pp. 264-269).
That the record of the debates relates to the meeting of January 24 (8), 1918, is evident from the "Afterword to the Theses on the Question of the Immediate Conclusion of a Separate and Annexationist Peace" placed in this collection (see document 48), in which Lenin writes about the three points of view that emerged at the meeting. Likewise, at the end of the "Record of Debates," Lenin, apparently summarizing, emphasizes: "three points of view." The quote cited in the "Afterword": "I stand on Lenin's old position"

NOTES ON THE PARTY MEETING
17
coincides with the record of the speech by V. V. Obolensky (Osinsky) in these notes. These facts confirm that the record of the debates was made precisely at the meeting of January 21 (8), 1918.
The printed documents acquire even greater historical interest because they are still the only material illuminating the first stage of the discussion of the theses, since the minutes of the party meeting of January 21 (8) have not yet been found. A total of 63 people participated in the meeting. Of these, 45 votes were cast for Lenin's point of view, 32 votes for revolutionary war, and "for declaring the war ended. to demobilize the army, but not to sign a peace" (Trotsky) - 46 votes.
*3180 п SS181
NOTES ON THE PARTY MEETING
JANUARY 21 (8), 1918
RECORD OF DEBATES.
[January 21 (8), 1918]
Obolensky:
Two basic] theses of Lenin:
1) "continuation]" of war:
2) intelligentsia] patriotism];
According to Lenin: "peasant [petty] bourgeois peace" "dictatorship of the peasantry"...
(NB) not immediate... "gradualism"
... "The German] soldier will not go on the offensive"... I believe in them
(in these fairy tales).
| and the German] Kaledinites? |
Gambrai - "Lenin himself (?) indicated" *.
Material] support (of Anglo-French) is not needed...
(we will do without the help of the Entente)3...
NB III State of civil] war with Germany:
III & la Kaledin front.
Rebellion] in Germany is near: I am on Leniп's old position 3.

"I am for breaking off negotiations and for a state of civil
war on the front... A state of revolution against German
imperialism." — — — Trotsky:
Revolutionary war is impossible. But can the Germans advance?
..."we have lost a lot in terms of results in a month"...
to continue the tactic of dragging out...
|
"the state of war ceases, the army is demobilized, III we go home to build socialist Russia"...
|||
to the south against the Rada? an agreement is in the works...
It would greatly hamper the offensive...
(25% for an offens]ive). - The Germans only offer a preliminary peace....
And if they offer other conditions? A ban on - agitation?

Favorable] moral situation: in a moral sense, we are clean before the working class of all countries.
NB: |||| "If revolutionary war, we will be
|||| overthrown, it is as clear as [clear] day."
We will not give grain, but the German is not a fool and will force us to give
grain....
Lomov:
"to decompose the German] and Austrian] army," that is our
form of struggle...
Let's prove to the German] army that we should not fight...
Dictatorship of the peasantry - "muzhik peace" that
Lenin wants....
Lenin finds great authority in the statements] of Kautsky
*et* *Co* 5.
The objective] situation is such that peace is not required.......
Preobrazhensky:
"In the ideologues of the tired soldier".... both in external and in
internal politics.......
.... "A Revolution that is unable to defend itself on the front is already doomed".......
..."purely technical" questions: 2 regiments, trifles.......
Where is the impossibility of defending oneself?

NOTES ON THE PARTY MEETING
We need faith that we are invincible. The example of the great French-
ch] revolution..........
Technically he will not be able to attack: "winter", it is expensive...
"Agreement with German imperialism"
Pre- obrazhensky).......
Preobrazhensky:
"There can be no compromise"*.
Three points of view *.
Kamenev:
"We are betraying Poland" *etc* г>.
Yakovleva:
"In the category of almost impossible," we will perish with honor and with a
highly raised banner.
....... "Everything so that the international] revolution will ignite
in Europe"..........

SUMMARY OF DEBATES AT THE PARTY MEETING ON JANUARY 21 (8),
1918.
[January 21 (8) - 21 (11), 1918]
Trotsky "Revolutionary war is impossible".... But can the Germans advance?
"The state of war ceases, the army is demobilized, we go home to build socialist Russia"...
Agreement of the Rada (with German)
imperialism; it is in the works.
25% are for the fact that Germans will be able to advance....
And if the Germans present even worse conditions? An obligat-
tion not to conduct agitation?
"A favorable moral situation"....
"In a moral sense, we are clean before the working class of all
countries"...
* The following notes relating to Kamenev and Yakovleva, judging
by the nature of the record, were added some time later. M