543. To INESSA ARMAND

Written January 16, 1917 · First published in 1964 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 49. Sent from Zurich to Clarens. Printed from the original. · page 603

Dear Friend,

If Switzerland is drawn into the war, the French will occupy Geneva immediately. To be in Geneva then is to be in France, and from there, to be in touch with Russia. I am therefore thinking of turning over the Party funds to you (for you to keep on your person, sewed up in a special little bag, as the bank won’t let you draw it during the war). I am writing to Grigory about this. These are merely plans, between ourselves for the time being.

I think that we shall remain in Zurich, that war is improbable.

My very best regards,
Yours,
Lenin