V. I.

Lenin

To the Congress of Textile Workers [1]

10.X.1922

Dear Comrades, I apologise for having had to let you down. I had the toothache, which
not only kept me from my work just when I had started it, but kept me
fretting for a whole week. All meetings (at congresses) have to be
cancelled again for a week.

I am very sorry that I cannot meet you at your congress. I hope that
Comrade Kutuzov will tell you everything in detail and convey to you my
best greetings and wishes.

Yours,

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
The Fifth All-Russia Congress of the Textile Workers Trade Union was held in Moscow from October 6 to 11, 1922. It was attended
by 350 voting delegates and 117 delegates with voice but no vote. The
congress discussed the report of the Trade Unions Central Committee, and
reports on the state of the textile industry, on the All-Russia Congress of
Trade Unions, on the organisational question, on the conditions of labour,
on cultural work and the international labour movement among the textile
workers.

At the opening meeting the delegates elected Lenin honorary chairman of
the congress and sent him greetings. On October 9, 1922, they invited Lenin
to the congress, and he accepted the invitation. He was unable to attend
it, however, as his health had taken a turn for the worse.

Lenin’s message of greeting was read out at the morning session on
October 10. The platform committee, on behalf of the delegates, sent him a
letter in reply to his greetings.