NOTES ON RYAZANOV’S AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION ON PARTY UNITY, 16 MARCH
I believe that, regrettable as it may be, Comrade Ryazanov’s proposal is unfeasible. We cannot deprive the Party—and the members of the Central Committee—of the right to address the Party whenever a fundamental question gives rise to disagreement. I simply cannot imagine how we could possibly do such a thing! The current Congress has no authority to bind future Congresses in any way whatsoever; but what if a question arises—such as, for example, the conclusion of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? Can you guarantee that no such questions will ever arise? We cannot make that guarantee. It is quite possible that we will then be forced to conduct elections along programmatic lines. (Ryazanov: “Only on a single issue?”) Of course. But your resolution states: no elections based on programmatic platforms. I am convinced that we lack the power to prohibit this. If our resolution on unity—and, of course, the further development of the revolution—unites us, then elections conducted according to programmatic platforms will not recur. The lesson we have learned at this Congress will not be forgotten. But if circumstances should give rise to fundamental disagreements, can we really forbid bringing those disagreements before the judgment of the entire Party? No, we cannot! This is an excessive demand, one that is impossible to fulfill—and I propose that we reject it.