Lenin CW-Vol. 23.pdf - From Marx to Mao

88LOST IN A WOOD OF THREE TREESThe first issue of the Bund Bulletin 42 (September 1916)contains a letter from a St. Petersburg Bundist dated February26, 1916. He writes:“Our difficulty in accepting the defence formula is greatlyaggravated by the fact that we, of all people, cannot hushup the Polish question, as our Russian comrades have sofar been doing.” (Don’t forget that this gentleman’s “comrades”are Potresov 43 and Co.) “And the fact that even the defencistsamong us do not want to apply the “no annexations”formula in relation to Russia is a strong argument againstdefence in the eyes of those who are not at present preparedto accept it psychologically. For they ask, ironically: Whatare you defending? The idea of an independent Poland enjoysrecognition in top circles” (which circles is not clear).When we stated, in our 1915 resolution, that Germanophilechauvinism predominates in the Bund,* the only replyKosovsky and Co. could give was abuse. Now our statementis corroborated in their own journal, and by their own partycolleague! For, if the Bund “defencists” do not wish to applythe “no annexations” formula “in relation to Russia” (notethat there is not a word about Germany!), then how doesthis differ, in substance, from Germanophile chauvinism?If the Bundists wanted to think, and could do so, theywould realise that on the question of annexations they arewandering in the dark. There is only one way out of theirwanderings and confusion: accept the programme we expoundedas early as 1913.** Namely, that a conscientious and* See present edition, Vol. 21, pp. 163-64.—Ed.** See present edition, Vol. 19, pp. 539-45.—Ed.