16. To LYDIA KNIPOVICH[2]
How do you propose printing Iskra in Russia? At a secret printing-press or a legal one? If the latter, write immediately whether you have anything definite in view; we are ready to snatch at this plan with both hands (it is, possible, we have been assured, in the Caucasus), and it would not require much money.[1] If the former, bear in mind that in our printed sheet (4 pages) there are about 100,000 characters [and that each month!]; would a secret printingpress be able to cope with that? Will it not waste a vast amount of money and people with excessively great risk? Would it not be better to use this money and energy on shipments, which Russia, in any case, cannot do without.
Notes
[1] If you have any more or less reliable contacts with, legal printing-plants, talk the matter over with them without fail and write to us; we have our own, very practical (and tested) plan on this score.[3]—Lenin
[2] This letter is a postscript to N. K. Krupskaya’s letter.
Knipovich, Lydia Mikhailovna (1856-1920)—a professional revolutionary, started her revolutionary activities in the seventies, carried on extensive cultural and educational work among the workers and played a prominent part in establishing Iskra’s contacts with the local organisations in Russia. After the Second Congress of the R.S.D.L.P. adhered to the Bolsheviks. p. 70
[3] Lenin proposed setting up Iskra abroad, having a matrix made from the typesetting and the matrix sent to Russia to be stereotyped and printed. p. 70