157. To V. K. TARATUTA

Written in Geneva and mailed to a local address · First published in 1964 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 47. Printed from a handwritten copy of the original. · page 197

1.XII. 08

Dear Comrade,

In reply to your query with Comrade Tyszka’s telegram enclosed I regret to inform you that I must refuse to pose the question as Comrade Tyszka would wish, for I believe that such a presentation of the question is absolutely in correct.

The representative of our group in the Central Committee Bureau Abroad, Comrade Victor, informed Comrade Tyszka that our group could not agree to the appointment of both a Bolshevik and a Menshevik as representatives of the C.C.^[1]

Now Comrade Tyszka is appealing from Comrade Victor to me personally: “if Lenin himself objects to Igor,” the telegram says, “we shall give up Igor”!! This is tantamount to appealing to me personally against a decision of our group.   I shall not reply to this “if” of Comrade Tyszka’s. In my opinion, Comrade Tyszka should himself withdraw his motion to appoint Igor.

With comradely greetings,
N. Lenin

Notes

[1] A reference to the delegates of the C.C., R.S.D.L.P., to the Sixth Congress of the Social-Democratic Party of Poland and Lithuania, held early in December 1908.