Written: Written between February 19 and 27, 1917
Published:
First published in 1964 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 49.
Sent from Zurich to Clarens.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
[1977],
Moscow,
Volume 43,
pages 611b-612a.
Translated: Martin Parker and Bernard Isaacs
Transcription\Markup:
R. Cymbala
Public Domain:
Lenin Internet Archive
(2005).
You may freely copy, distribute,
display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
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Text
• README
Dear Friend,
I am sending you a leaflet. Will you please translate it into French and English.[1] The German translation will be made for me in Berne, I hope.
I am greatly interested in the idea of such propaganda, especially of the May Day strike—a strike like this was suggested by one of the Lefts in Switzerland (Holzarbeiter-Zeitung, Schweizerische, von 27.I.1917). I’d very much like to send this leaflet to Paris. I hope Grisha will be able to get it published, and it will find its way to Germany, too, afterwards, I think.
Please translate it in vigorous language, in short sentences. Please write it in duplicate on thin paper as clearly as possible to avoid misprints. If possible let Usiyevich (keeping the thing secret) make a copy from the Russian text to be forwarded to Abramovich (together with one copy of the French translation). The two English copies, one French copy and my Russian text return to me as soon as possible. We must hurry, because in view of mailing difficulties, there is not much time left until 1.V, and we must start agitation beforehand.
All the very best,
Yours,
Lenin
P.S. Nadya feels better today, though she is still in bed. She sends you warm regards. Read the enclosed and forward it to Abramovich together with the Russian text and the French translation.
[1] The reference is to Leaflet No. 1 “Gegen die Luge der Vaterlandsverteidigung” (Against the Fatherland Defence Lie), afterwards issued over the signature: “A group of Zimmerwald Lefts in Switzer land”. Lenin took an active part in the drafting and editing of this leaflet, which incorporated his “Proposed Amendments to the Resolution on the War Issue” and a number of propositions from other articles of his.
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