The gobbet is a speech by Vladimir Lenin, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, delivered
at the Extraordinary 7th Congress of the Bolshevik Party on March 8th, 1918. The Speech was given
when the review of the party’s programme and the possibility of changing its name was discussed.
Lenin wanted to enhance the party’s programme by adding a definition of imperialism in the area
which analysed the development of capitalism. The Congress was held three days after the signing
of the Treaty of Breast-Litovsk and finished a week before it was ratified at the All-Russian Congress
of Soviets. In the view of historians such as Richard Debo, Thomas Krasus and Richard Ullman, this
Congress was quite significant because it marked a shift of paradigm in the RSFSR as Lenin managed
to isolate the left Bolsheviks who advocated for a world-revolution policy but more fundamentally,
he left the Congress with almost absolute power.
The first sentence in the text shows Lindley’s concern about the the British authorities’
underestimation of the Bolsheviks, and more particularly of the Foreign Office since the
letter was address to Drummond. ‘Don’t be misled’ might refer to the different reports sent
by the Intelligence Bureau that underplayed the Bolsheviks seizure of power. In fact, only
seven days before the letter was sent, an intelligence report for the War Cabinet stated “the
victories of the Bolsheviks (...) can be anything but temporary.
Lindley argues that the Bolsheviks demands for peace is popular among Russians, implying
that this was the basis of their power. This view was shared by George Buchanan in a letter
to Charles Hardinge, Balfour’s Under-Secretary. With historical perspective, historians such
as Richard Debo and Robert Service argue that Bolshevik appeal for peace was fundamental
for their success, unlike the Provisional Government who failed to achieve this.
at the Extraordinary 7th Congress of the Bolshevik Party on March 8th, 1918. The Speech was given
when the review of the party’s programme and the possibility of changing its name was discussed.
Lenin wanted to enhance the party’s programme by adding a definition of imperialism in the area
which analysed the development of capitalism. The Congress was held three days after the signing
of the Treaty of Breast-Litovsk and finished a week before it was ratified at the All-Russian Congress
of Soviets. In the view of historians such as Richard Debo, Thomas Krasus and Richard Ullman, this
Congress was quite significant because it marked a shift of paradigm in the RSFSR as Lenin managed
to isolate the left Bolsheviks who advocated for a world-revolution policy but more fundamentally,
he left the Congress with almost absolute power.
The first sentence in the text shows Lindley’s concern about the the British authorities’
underestimation of the Bolsheviks, and more particularly of the Foreign Office since the
letter was address to Drummond. ‘Don’t be misled’ might refer to the different reports sent
by the Intelligence Bureau that underplayed the Bolsheviks seizure of power. In fact, only
seven days before the letter was sent, an intelligence report for the War Cabinet stated “the
victories of the Bolsheviks (...) can be anything but temporary.
Lindley argues that the Bolsheviks demands for peace is popular among Russians, implying
that this was the basis of their power. This view was shared by George Buchanan in a letter
to Charles Hardinge, Balfour’s Under-Secretary. With historical perspective, historians such
as Richard Debo and Robert Service argue that Bolshevik appeal for peace was fundamental
for their success, unlike the Provisional Government who failed to achieve this.
