V. I.   Lenin

523

To:   L. D. TROTSKY


Written: Written on November 30, 1921
Published: First published in 1965 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 54. Printed from the original.
Source: Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1976, Moscow, Volume 45, page 390a.
Translated: Yuri Sdobnikov
Transcription\Markup: R. Cymbala
Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.README


Comrade Trotsky:

Please, take the enclosed into consideration, and return to me (together with this note)—I shall send it to a few other people.[1]

Ad 1. What is there to be “cautious” about?? There is nothing at all in practice, nothing but talks. Unfortunately, the Germans are excessively “cautious”. Here Chicherin is wrong.

Ad No. 3... I think that is a piece of gossip. We should face Hartwig (and the other Ger--\thinspace-mans) with this flat and precise question: what is it you want of us? a treaty without Britain? Very well, then! Let’s have a draft as soon as possible and we shall sign it.

Until now, the Germans have come forward with nothing but words.

For the sake of diplomacy, Krasin had to avoid showing his cards to Stinnes, and even had to be amiable with him.

30/XI. Lenin


Notes

[1] A reference to G. V. Chicherin’s letter, who, with the economic negotiations with Germany in mind, wrote: “I would
No. 1
?? recommend very great caution in respect of the proposed grand German prospects” (the underlinings and remarks hero and below are Lenin’s). Chicherin went on to describe the improvement of relations with Poland (here Lenin put “2” in the margin, but did not deal with this question in his letter). Returning to the negotiations with Germany, Chicherin continued: “What Hartwig said made it clear that Krasin in Berlin supported the Stinnes line of trustification with
|| ? Britain for work in Russia, that he held himself very close to Stinnes, and even agreed with him about his trip to Britain. Over here in talks with us Krasin kept yessing us and agreeing with the opposite line—supporting in every way the
||| ? ? tendency in Germany for separate work (without Britain) in Russia. While abroad he was doing the opposite!”
No. 3


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