V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v49;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

Dear Comrade,
I should very much like to go to Zurich for two or three weeks to work in the libraries for a job I have in hand. 216 My wife would also like to go. We have no papers yet, but hope to get them soon. The question is whether we can overcome the financial difficulties. I would ask you very much to answer me frankly and without exaggeration the following questions:

1) How much net income (i.e., for me) can a lecture bring in? Minimum and maximum? Subject: “The Two Internationals”: the growing division and split with the social-chauvinists all over the world. Is it possible to increase the income by giving two lectures and by how much? 217 2) Will the local comrades help us to get cheap accommodation for the two of us and how much will 3) a room (for two, even with one bed) cost per week? the cheapest, preferably in a working-class family? 4) dinner in a canteen, if there is one (here we pay 65 centimes in the students’ canteen) 5) morning coffee** and evening coffee, for we cannot, of course, set up housekeeping in Zurich?

* The manuscript breaks off here. — Ed.
** — morning coffee. — Ed.

The travelling expenses will be 7 × 4 = 28 frs; the extra cost of living in a strange town? That is the question. Things are bad here as regards rooms. Do you know of a working-class family that could seriously promise cheap accommodation?

I shall be very grateful for a frank answer, only without exaggerated promises.

Beste Grüsse!*

Yours,
Lenin

P.S. Are there cheap automats, etc., and what are the prices there?