Date: 1905
Source: ru:PSS/v47
Source: CW vol 47

8/Х. 05.

Dear friends! I am in a hurry to inform you about an important turn of events regarding the representation in the International Bureau. The South Russian Conference of Mensheviks adopted a resolution on this, in which 1) there is a gross lie about me personally. I will respond in No. 20 of *Proletary*, which will come out the day after tomorrow. 2) They ask Plekhanov to be the representative of their part of the party.

This is exactly what we need! Plekhanov, of course, will honor their request. His quasi-neutrality, which is disastrous for us, will be exposed, as was required to be proven. Let there be two in the International Bureau: one from the majority and one from the minority. This is the best. Moreover, if Plekhanov is from the minority, it is even better. This is an excellent precedent for future unification. I earnestly request: drop all thoughts of Plekhanov now and appoint your delegate from the majority. Only then will we be fully secured. It would be good to appoint Orlovsky. He knows languages, can speak well, and has a presence. Most of the correspondence is written, almost all of it, and of course, we would consult. Although there is nothing to consult about: I assure you from experience that this representation is a pure formality. In the past, Plekhanov often entrusted this representation to Koltsov, and it never caused any trouble, although

* See the article "Representation of the RSDLP in the International Socialist Bureau" (Collected Works, 5th ed., vol. 11, pp. 309-311). Ed.