First published: Delo Naroda, No. 201, November 6/19, 1917, p. 1.
Source: James Bunyan and H.H. Fisher, The Bolshevik revolution, 1917-1918: Documents and materials, Stanford University Press; London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1934, pp. 203-204.
Online Version: Zinoviev Internet Archive, October 2017
HTML Markup: Zdravko Saveski
The resolution of the Central Committee of the Bolsheviks on November 1/14 practically amounts to a refusal to come to an understanding with the parties that make up the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies on the question of forming a Socialist Soviet Government. We believe that only by an agreement along the lines indicated by us will it be possible for the proletariat and the revolutionary army to strengthen their hold on the conquests of the October Revolution, to fortify their new positions, and to gather strength for continuing the struggle for socialism.
We believe that the formation of such a government is necessary to put a stop to the further shedding of blood, to halt the approaching famine, to crush Kaledin, to call the Constituent Assembly on time, and to put into life the program of peace passed by the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.
After unprecedented efforts we succeeded in having the decision of the Central Executive Committee reconsidered and in bringing forward a new resolution which could be used as a basis for forming a Soviet Government. But this new resolution has called forth such a series of measures on the part of the leading group of the Central Committee that it is quite clear that that group is determined not to permit the formation of a government of the parties in the Soviet and to insist on a purely Bolshevik government regardless of the sacrifices to the workers and soldiers.
We cannot assume responsibility for this ruinous policy of the Central Committee, carried out against the will of a large part of the proletariat and soldiers who are most eager for an early cessation of blood-shedding by the different wings of the democracy.
We resign from membership in the Central Committee so that we may be free to speak openly to the workers and soldiers and to ask them to support our slogan: Long live the government of the parties in the Soviet and an immediate understanding on these terms!
We leave the Central Committee at the moment of victory, at the moment when our party is dominant, but we do so because we cannot quietly look on while the leading group in the Central Committee wastes the fruit of this victory and leads the proletariat to ruin.
By remaining in the ranks of the proletarian party we hope that the proletariat will surmount all obstacles and will perceive that our actions were inspired by our feeling of duty and responsibility before the Socialist proletariat.
Yu. KAMENEV
A. I. RYKOV
V. MILIUTIN
G. ZINOVIEV
V. NOGIN
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