Letter to David Wijnkoop, July 22, 1915

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Author(s) Lenin
Written 22 July 1915


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First published in 1960 in Voprosy Istorii KPSS No. 4. Sent to Zwolle. Printed from the original. Translated from the German.
Source: Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1977, Moscow, Volume 43, pages 467b-468.
Collection(s): Voprosy Istorii KPSS
Keywords : David Wijnkoop, Letter

SĂśrenberg (Kt. Luzern)

22/VII. 1915

Dear Comrade Wijnkoop,

I am sending you the resolutions of our Party, translated by Comrade Radek.[1] It seems to me—after having read your resolutions—that there definitely exists agreement between us in principle.

Comrade Radek writes me that we ought to jointly draw up theses, and not resolutions (we, meaning—the Dutch Social-Democratic Party, our Party, the Polish Social-Democratic “Opposition”, and probably also the Lettish Social-Democrats). I don’t think it matters much—theses or resolutions. What matters is that we clearly and popularly formulate the revolutionary tactics, define the imperialist nature of the war and defend Marxism against falsification by Kautsky, Plekhanov & Co.

Unfortunately, Radek has not yet sent me his draft declaration. I hope that you, on reading our resolutions, will answer me in the shortest possible time whether you agree with us in principle. Everything should be ready by August 7–10.

If you can say quite definitely whether any one of your people could be in Berne between August 7 and 10, then perhaps it would be possible to arrange a small conference in Berne and jointly draw up the theses. If not, we shall have to arrange it by correspondence, and this will take a long time.

With best regards,

Yours, N. Lenin

P.S. Radek tells me that you are on very good terms with Charles Kerr, the Chicago publisher. We are publishing in Russian (and eventually in German) a small pamphlet (about 100,000 printer’s ems) with our resolutions and explanations. Could you inquire of Charles Kerr whether he would agree (and on what terms) to publish our pamphlet in English?[2]

P.P.S. I shall try to formulate and send you the draft. Your proposal to establish contact with other Leftists (Britain, Sweden, France, etc.) meets with our whole-hearted approval.

  1. ↑ Meaning the resolutions of the Berne Conference of the RSDLP Groups Abroad (see present edition, Vol. 21, pp. 158–64).—Ed.
  2. ↑ This refers to the pamphlet Socialism and War (The Attitude of the RSDLP Towards the War) (see present edition, Vol. 21, pp. 295–338).—Ed.
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