V. I. Lenin

Speeches
At A Meeting Of The Central Committee
Of The R.S.D.L.P.(B.)

January 19 (February 1), 1918

Minutes

1

Comrade Lenin asks what kind of conference should be called. [1]
He believes we should have it out with the advocates of a
revolutionary war, because their remark seems to hint at the
charge that one group within the Party suspects the other of
being diplomatic on the question of peace. Actually, there is no
diplomacy involved at all, because the armistice decision said
quite openly that any side wishing to terminate it must announce
its intention to do so seven days before the start of hostilities. On that ground we have been marking time with the
peace. How was the decision adopted at the Third Congress of
Soviets? It was adopted as proposed by the Central Executive
Committee, which adopted its decision on the strength of the
Party group decision, and the latter adopted it in line with a
C.C. resolution. Lenin believes that the best way to dissuade
the comrades favouring a revolutionary war would be for them to
go to the front and see for themselves that it is quite
impossible to conduct the war. Nor does he see any sense in
having a conference, because its decisions could not be binding
on the Central Committee; in view of this it might be necessary
for us to call a Party congress [2] to get precise instructions from the
Party. By dragging out the peace talks we are creating an
opportunity to continue fraternisation, and by concluding a
peace we could at once have an exchange of prisoners of war,
thereby sending to Germany a great mass of people who had seen
our revolution in action and had been schooled by it. It would
be easier for them to work on the awakening of a revolution in
Germany. He believes, in addition, that in order to ascertain
exactly what is going on in Germany we should send aviators to
Berlin, which, they say, is quite possible.

2

Comrade Lenin, speaking on a point of order, suggests that
Bukharin should give the facts on the state of affairs within
the Petrograd Committee.

3

Comrade Lenin makes a concrete proposal. He points out to those
who want a conference that it would not heal the rift. A Party
congress is a necessity, whereas a conference merely elicits
opinion in the Party which should be put on record. With that
end in view he proposes the convocation of a meeting representing all shades of opinion and standpoints, each by at
least three persons. Such a meeting should work out an agreement.

4

Comrade Lenin suggests the meeting should be held within two or
three days, without publishing the theses, which should not be
made known to Germany. The question of the conference should not
be solved before the meeting, but it would be absurd to defer
the question of peace until a congress without publishing the
theses.

5

Comrade Lenin proposes a meeting of delegates leaving after the
Third Congress of Soviets, without, however, anything being
handed out in writing.

6

Comrade Lenin says that the Party programme will not be ready by
February 15, and proposes that:

the meeting should be held on
January 20, and should be made up as follows: (1) Central
Committee; (2) representatives of clearly expressed opinions,
namely, Lenin, Sokolnikov, Bukharin, Obolensky, Stukov. If
Smirnov, Obolensky, Stukov and Pyatakov differ, they will send
two representatives, and otherwise, one; (3) the Petrograd
Committee to be represented by Fenigstein; (4) a Latvian.

Bukharin and Lomov should be authorised to talk it over
with the Muscovites and with Pyatakov. Each group to present its
own theses. [3]