V. I. Lenin

To G. V. Chicherin {3}

Comrade Chicherin,

||

We must urgently (to be endorsed in the C.C. before departure
of the

Spartacist {4} ) prepare an international socialist conference for
founding the Third International. (in Berlin (openly) or in Holland
(secretly) , say, for 1.11.1 9 1 9 )

| | |

[generally very soon]

Forthis we must (a)formulate platform principles (I think we
could

(α) take the theory and practice of Bolshevism —have
Bukharin set this forth in theses, as briefly as possible.

Talk it over with Bukharin—perhaps take part of them from my draft programme {1} (β) then take “ Was will der Spartacusbund ?"). α +
β give sufficiently clear platform principles ; (b)define the basis (organisational) of the
Third International (nothing in common with the social-patriots); (c)give a list of parties, roughly under three headings αα) parties and groups we have good reason to consider as
already sharing the platform of the Third International and as being
sufficiently unanimous oil the question of formally founding the
Third International; ββ) parties close to this, from whom we
expect alignment and affiliation; γγ) groups and currents within the
social-patriotic parties more or less close to Bolshevism .

Iam offering a tentative list (p. 4) {2}

;

additions should be made with care .

Whoare we inviting to our conference? Only αα + ββ + γγ and only those (1) who resolutely stand for a break with the social-patriots (i.e., the
people who, directly or indirectly, supported the bourgeois governments
during the imperialist war of 1914-18);

2) who are for a socialist revolution now and
for   the dictatorship of the proletariat;

3) who are in principle for “Soviet power" and against
limitation of our work by bourgeois parliamentarism, against
subordination to it, and who recognise the fact that the Soviet
type of government is higher and closer to socialism.

Perhapswe should add that we do not suggest that the whole of
the Third International immediately start calling itself “communist”, but
we

do place on the order of the day (for discussion) the question of resolutely rejecting the names of
“Social-Democratic”and “socialist”parties, and adopting that of
“communist” parties.

| Arguments | theoretical | Engels and Marx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | historical | breakdown of the Second International disgrace of social-patriotism |
| | practical | already accepted by { Russia { Finland { German { Austria { Holland { Hungary |

Pleasetackle this job urgently, and together with Bukharin
draw up a draft on all these points. Answer me at once, if only briefly.

Greetings! Lenin

Onno account must the Zimmerwaldists be taken as a gauge.

| | (αα) Spartacusbund (Germany) The Communist Party of | Finland

German Austria

Hungary

Holland |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Social-Democrats

αα

of Poland and Lithuania | ”

”

”

” | Russia

Ukraine

Estonia

Latvia | ββ  The Tesnyaki of Bulgaria Rumanian Party?

γγ  ((the Lefts and the young in ((the Swiss Social-Democratic Party ββ  The Socialist Party of Scotland αα   the Left S.D. of Sweden ββ  the Norwegian S.D. Party ββ  the Danish S.D. group (Marie Nielsen)

and the syndicalists, close to Bolshevism γγ  Loriot’s group in France ββ  the “League”in the United States (or followers of Debs?)

Wecount alignment on closer affiliation with……the British
Socialist Party…ββ the Italian Socialist

Party… {5} ββ

---
Notes:
{1}
Lenin is referring to the material for the draft of the Party’s new
programme (see Vol. 24, pp. 455-79 and Vol. 27, pp. 152–58 of this
edition).— Ed .

{2}
The list is given at the end of this letter— Ed .

{3}
Lenin’s letter to Chicherin was written in connection with the
preparations for the first congress of the Comintern.

Alreadyat the beginning of the first world war, when the collapse of the Second International occurred as a result of most of
the leaders of the socialist parties in the West adopting a
social-chauvinist stand, Lenin put forward the idea of founding a new,
truly revolutionary International and pressed forward with a campaign to
unite the Left socialist forces in the international labour movement. The
victory of the October Socialist Revolution and its growing impact upon the
international revolutionary movement, and the emergence of Communist
Parties or groups in a number of capitalist countries made this task more
urgent than ever and created favourable conditions for its solution.

Theurgent need for uniting the Communists was further dictated by the fact that the opportunist, social-chauvinist leaders had
made an attempt to revive the Second International. The leadership of the
British Labour Party had addressed a proposal to the socialists of all
countries to convene in Lausanne on January 6, 1949, an international
socialist conference to rehabilitate the Second International. In reply to
this proposal the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party
(Bolsheviks) circulated on December 24, 1918, a radio-telegram calling on
all revolutionary internationalist elements to refuse to take part “in
conferences of enemies of the working class wearing the mask of
socialism” (Pravda No. 281, December 25, 1918). At the sametime
Lenin, as his letter to Chicherin shows, raised the question of convening
without delay an international conference of Communists and Left
Social-Democrats with the aim of founding the Third
International. p. — Ed .

{4}
This refers to E. Fuchs, a member of the Central Council of the
Sportakusbund. He arrived in Moscow from Berlin at the end of
December 1918 to inform Lenin of the situation in Germany.

{5}
A report was drawn up for Lenin on December 31 characterising the
parties and organisations mentioned in his list In addition to those
given by Lenin the report gave the names of eight more organisations. It
also suggested inviting representatives of the Chinese, Korean and
Persian revolutionary workers to the conference in the capacity of
guests.

Thesame day Lenin received the draft of an appeal “To the First
Congress of the Communist International”written at his request and in
keeping with his proposals. Lenin made a number of important amendments
to the draft.

In January 1919 the draft appeal “To the First
Congress of the Communist International”was submitted by Lenin at ameeting
of representatives of a number of communist and socialist parties and
organisations. After a discussion, the meeting adopted the draft. The
appeal was published in the press on January 24, 1918.

The First Congress of the Communist International was held on March 2-6, 1919 (see present edition, Vol. 28,
pp. 453-77).— Ed .