Letter to Herman Gorter, May 5, 1915

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To Comrade H. Gorter

Dear Comrade Gorter,

Comrade Radek has shown me your letter.

It would certainly be very good if an international Social-Democratic journal could be founded under the editor ship of Pannekoek. We must fight Neue Zeit’s mean way of defending opportunism of the worst brand by means of sophisms.

The only question is—will we have enough money and literary forces to establish the journal immediately?

If not, we must without fail issue one (or two) pamphlets in German, without waiting until the war is over. The pamphlet should consist of articles by Russian, Dutch, German (Radek), French (perhaps Merrheim) and English (perhaps Rothstein) comrades, who consider it necessary to wage a ruthless fight against the opportunist traitors (including Kautsky).

In my opinion, we should under no circumstances lose any time in doing this. It is necessary, right now, while the war is still on, to tell the whole truth—naturally, not in Germany, but in Switzerland, so that we can speak freely about the revolutionary struggle, without a censorship.

If a French or English contributor cannot be found at once, we should not wait; better issue the first pamphlet ourselves (i.e., without the French and English). We can make do with a translation of Merrheim’s opinion (namely, that to speak about a “war of liberation” is a deception).

Radek says that your pamphlet has come out in English. I am very glad to hear it—I shall now be able to read and understand it. I understand Dutch to the extent of approximately 30–40%. I congratulate you on your splendid at tacks on opportunism and Kautsky. Trotsky’s principal mistake is that he does not attack this gang.

Best regards,

Yours,

N. Lenin

My address is: Wl. Uljanow. Waldheimstrasse 66. Bern. Write me a postcard when you are coming.