Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 16 - From Marx to Mao

232V. I. LENIN5. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DECEMBER (1908)RESOLUTIONS AND THE ATTITUDE OF THE LIQUIDATORS TO THEMThese last comments on the defects of the plenum resolutionmust be applied to the introductory words of thefirst point, which read: “Enlarging upon the main propositionsof the resolutions of the Party Conference of 1908, theCentral Committee resolves....” This formulation is theresult of a concession to the Mensheviks, and this circumstancemust be dwelt upon all the more for the fact that wehave here again a glaring example of disloyalty in returnfor the concession, or a crying incapacity to understand themeaning of the Party’s definitions of our tactics.The draft resolution, which was approved by the majorityof the commission and was therefore assured of a majorityvote at the plenum, had the words: “in confirmation ofthe resolutions of December 1908 and enlarging upon them....”Here too the Mensheviks put forward in the form of an ultimatumtheir demand for a concession, refusing to vote forthe resolution as a whole if the words “in confirmation”were retained, for they regard the resolutions of December1908 as the height of “factionalism”. We made the concessionthey demanded by agreeing to vote for the resolution withoutthe words about confirmation. I should not be disposedto regret this concession in the slightest if it had achievedits purpose, i.e., if the Mensheviks had received it withthe loyalty to a Party decision without which collaborationis impossible. Our Party has no other definition of its mainproblems of tactics, organisation and parliamentary activityin the Third Duma period than the one given in theresolutions of December 1908. Without denying that factionalstrife was very acute at that time, we shall not insiston any particular sharp expression occurring in the resolutionsthen directed against the liquidators. But we certainlydo insist on the fundamental propositions of these resolutions,for it would be uttering brave words in vain to speakof the Party, the Party principle and Party organisation ifwe brushed aside the only answer, given by the Party andconfirmed by the experience of a year’s work, to cardinalfundamental questions, without an answer to which itis impossible to advance a single step whether in propaganda,agitation or organisation. We are quite ready to recog-