Comrades! About a year ago, in a "Letter to the American Workers" (dated August 20, 1918), I outlined for you the state of affairs in Soviet Russia and its tasks[11]. That was still before the German revolution. Since then, world events have confirmed the correctness of the assessment given by the Bolsheviks of the imperialist war of 1914–1918 in general, and of the imperialism of the Entente in particular. And Soviet power has since become understandable and close to the mind and heart of the working masses throughout the world. Everywhere the working masses, despite the influence of the old leaders, saturated with chauvinism and opportunism, are coming to the conviction that bourgeois parliaments are rotten and that Soviet power, the power of the working people, the dictatorship of the proletariat, is necessary to deliver mankind from the yoke of capital. And Soviet power will triumph throughout the world, no matter how the bourgeoisie of all countries may rage and rave. It is drowning Russia in blood, waging war against us, setting against us counter-revolutionaries, supporters of the restoration of the yoke of capital. The bourgeoisie is causing unheard-of torment to the working masses of Russia by blockade and support of the counter-revolution, but we have defeated Kolchak and, with full faith in victory, are waging war against Denikin.

23. IX. 1919.

I am often asked whether those Americans — not only workers, but mainly bourgeois — who, while having a negative attitude to the war against Russia, expect from us, in the event of the conclusion of peace, not only the resumption of trade relations with us, but also the possibility of obtaining certain concessions in Russia, are right. I repeat that they are right. A lasting peace would be such a relief for the working masses in Russia that these masses would undoubtedly agree even to the granting of certain concessions. Concessions granted on reasonable terms are desirable for us as well, as one of the means of attracting to Russia the technical assistance of countries more advanced in this respect, during the period when socialist and capitalist states exist side by side.

23. IX. 1919.