ABSTRACT
Lenin, in his lucid moments, was considering the means of strengthening the Party and avoiding a baleful conflict between his successors, who were making all preparations for a battle for the supreme power. As for Stalin, the 'Old Man' found no political fault in him. But —and this judgement must have been to some extent inspired by his retort to Krupskaia—'he is inordinately coarse and brutal. He is also capable of taking advantage of his power to settle personal disputes'. Men like Stalin understand how to take advantage of everything —even of apparent set-backs. It was easy enough to excite a reaction against Zinoviev, who was regarded as a usurper, and guilty of lèse-majesté. Krupskaia had replied that 'she would take it upon herself to get Lenin to understand and sign'. She added that 'she was preparing, in according with Lenin's indications, a new "testament", treating Stalin and company with greater severity than the former document'.
