Session of the Council of the RSDLP, January 1904 (2)

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The RSDLP Council, which met at Geneva from January 15 (28) to 17 (30), 1904, was “called on the initiative of the CO representatives for the purpose of discussing measures to co-ordinate the activity of the CC and the CO in the publication of Party literature” (Lenin Miscellany X, p. 181—minutes of the Council’s sittings). The Council’s sittings were attended by V. I. Lenin, F. V. Lengnik, 0. V. Plekhanov, P. B. Axelrod and L. Martov.

On a motion by Lenin, the Party Council decided to include in the agenda and to discuss first the question of measures to restore peace in the Party. On behalf of the Central Committee, Lenin motioned a draft resolution on the question on January 15 (28) (see present edition, Vol. 7, pp. 147–49). When the debate showed the Mensheviks’ negative attitude to the resolution, Lenin and Lengnik motioned another draft resolution on restoring peace in the Party on January 16 (29) (see p. 109), which was adopted by the Council by three votes (Lenin, Lengnik and Plekhanov) to two (Martov and Axelrod). But instead of proceeding to a concrete discussion of the question of restoring peace in the Party, the Council, over Lenin’s protest, went to vote Plekhanov’s resolution demanding the co-optation of the Mensheviks to the Central Committee. The resolution was adopted by the votes of Plekhanov, Martov and Axelrod. Accordingly, the CC representatives (Lenin and Lengnik) entered a minority opinion on January 17 (30) censuring Plekhanov’s resolution which ignored the will of the majority at the Party’s Second Congress. The minority opinion was written by Lenin (see present edition, Vol. 7, pp. 150–53).

When the Mensheviks had frustrated every effort to establish peace in the Party, Lenin motioned a draft resolution on the convocation of the Party’s Third Congress as the only way out of the situation (see present edition, Vol. 7, p. 154). By the votes of Plekhanov, Martov and Axelrod, this resolution was rejected and one by Martov against the convocation of the Party congress adopted.

Nor was any agreement reached between the representatives of the CC and the Mensheviks on the publication of Party literature. The Party Council rejected the resolutions on this question motioned by Lenin and adopted the resolutions approving of the factional and disorganising activity of the Editorial Board of the Menshevik Iskra.

The Council’s January sittings showed that with Plekhanov’s switch to the Mensheviks’ side, the RSDLP Council became an instrument in the Menshevik fight against the Party. p. 108

JANUARY 15–17 (28–30), 1904

1. REMARK ON A POINT OF ORDER

JANUARY 15 (28)

L e n i n raises a point of order and, when given the floor, motions a discussion of the question of the measures which could help to restore peace in the Party and normal relations between members of the Party who do not see eye to eye.

First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X
Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections)

2. REMARKS ON THE AGENDA

JANUARY 10 (29)

1

L e n i n insists that his resolution should be put to the vote first and refers to the existing custom giving voting priority to the resolution which was motioned earlier.

2

The right of introducing minority opinions has always been recognised as a part of the order of business. Comrade Martov made an attempt to separate the general from the particular. I quite agree with this, but I merely give a somewhat different wording to his proposal.

First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X
Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections)

3. SPEECH MOTIONING A DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE IN THE PARTY

JANUARY 16 (29)

L e n i n (reads out his resolution): “To establish peace in the Party and normal relations between differing members of the Party there is need for the Party Council to explain which forms of the internal Party struggle are correct and admissible and which are incorrect and inadmissible.”

Published in 1904 in the pamphlet, N. Shakhov, Borba za syezd (Struggle for the Congress), Geneva
Printed from the minutes verified with the original

4. SPEECH CONCERNING THE MINORITY OPINION ENTERED BY THE CC REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 17 (30)

A rule has been established in the practice of all congresses in virtue of which those voting have the right to record their minority opinions. Of course, every minority opinion is essentially a kind of criticism. But this circumstance did not, after all, prevent the entry at the Second Congress of a minority opinion issued by the Bund representatives, an opinion which was the sharpest kind of criticism levelled at the decision adopted by the Congress. Our minority opinion sets out the motives for which we opposed Comrade Plekhanov’s proposal and in general our attitude to this proposal. It is the more necessary to read out this minority opinion because at the end of it there is a motivated statement to the effect that we withdraw our resolution.

First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X
Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections)

5. SPEECH IN DEFENCE OF THE MINORITY OPINION OF THE CC REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 17 (30)

I resolutely protest against the idea that our minority opinion contained any accusations levelled at the Council. Such an interpretation is entirely wrong and Comrade Martov’s attempt is an encroachment on our freedom of expression; his resolution is therefore unwarranted.

First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X
Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections)

6. REMARK ON THE AGENDA

JANUARY 17 (30)

The representatives of the CC would like to move several other small points for discussion, but I request that the question of convening a Party congress should be placed on the order paper beforehand.

First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X
Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections)

JANUARY 17 (30)

The Party Council considers it improper for the representatives of the CO Editorial Board to communicate to the Secretary of the CO Comrade Vasilyev’s opinion of him, because this opinion was submitted to the members of the Council only, being a part of the meetings within the Party’s supreme body.

First published in full in 1929 in Lenin Miscellany X
Printed from the minutes (with Lenin’s corrections)