Date: 1893
Source: ru:PSS/v46


Source: CW vol 46

For the CC (to be passed to NN)
Yesterday, the sessions (three) of the Party Council ended. These meetings shed
final light on the entire political situation in the party. Plekhanov is going along with
the Mensheviks, outvoting us on everything, however important. Our resolution condemning the boycott and so forth (boycott from both sides) was not put to a vote; only the principle of separating unacceptable forms of struggle from acceptable ones was adopted. On the other hand, Plekhanov's resolution was adopted: it is desirable for the CC to co-opt a corresponding (sic!) number from the minority. After this, we withdraw our resolution and submit a protest*, expressing opposition to this policy of local squabbling within the Council. Three members of the Council (Martov, Axelrod, and Plekhanov) respond that it is beneath their dignity to consider this protest. We state that the only honest way out is a congress. The Council rejects this. The three members adopt resolutions legalizing (!) the sending of representatives by the editorial board separately from the CC, instructing the CC to provide the editorial board with literature in quantities needed for distribution (!!). This means providing them with material for their own transportation and distribution, as now one "agent" after another is coming from them, refusing to carry out tasks for the Central Committee. Moreover, they have their own transport ready (they offered to share the costs).

In Iskra (No. 57), there is an article by Plekhanov calling our CC eccentric (there are no minorities in it) and inviting it to co-opt. How many is unknown; according to private information, at least three from a very narrow list (of 5-6, apparently), and perhaps also with the demand for some to leave the Central Committee.

Only the blind can fail to see what is happening now. The Council will pressure the CC in every possible way, demanding complete concessions to the Mensheviks. Either an immediate congress, or

* See V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, 5th ed., vol. 8, pp. 145-146. Ed.