BOOK REVIEW 75 asked to incorporate the slogan of right of self determination as a slogan directed against a particular oppressor nation and its ruling class. At the same time Lenin said that the social democrats of the oppressed nations must attach prime importance to the iask of uniting class struggles of workers of the oppressor nations with that of the workers of the oppressed nations. Forming parts of a dialectical unity Lenin has treated this question in relation to proletarian class struggle for socialism. In the colonies and semi-colonies the working class was asked to render support to the revolutionary elements in the bourgeois democratic movement for national liberation in these countries. He thereby made a distinction between bourgeois nationalism of the oppressor nations and the bourgeois nationalism of the oppressed nations. He stated in his famous article on the Rights of Nations to Self-determination, "In this question,, the proletariat of Russia is faced with a two-fold or rather two-sided task: to combat nationalism of every kind, above all, Great Russian nationalism, to recognise not only full self-determination, but right to secession." And at the same time it is their task, in the interests of a successful struggle against all and every kind of nationalism among all nations, to preserve the unity of the proletarian struggle and the proletarian organizations, amalgamating these organizations into a close-knit international association despite bourgeois strivings for national exclusiveness. "Complete equality of rights for all nationalities: the right of nations to self-determination; the unity of workers of all nations—such is the national programme that Marxism, the experience of the whole world, and the experience of Russia teaches the workers." Based on Lenin's thesis the Bolshevik party adopted the resolution on the national question in 1913. Immediately after the February revolution of 1917 the Party reaffirmed its policy and a resolution was adopted at its Conference held in April 1917. The subsequent historic declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia published on the 10th day of the assumption of power by the Soviet Government on November 16, 1917 laid down the basic principles of Soviet National Policy. (1) The equality and sovereignty of all the nationalities of Russia. (2) The right of nations of Russia to self-determination up to and including secession and formation of independent states. (3) Abolition of all national and religious privileges and restrictions whatsoever. (4) Freedom of development for the national minorities and ethnic groups inhabiting the country. (p55). The prison-house of the nationalities crumbled down and a new Soviet state was born on the foundations of a voluntary union of free nationalities, national republics. After the consolidation of Soviet power the right to secession was incorporated in the Soviet Constitution (1935) framed under Stalin's leadership. It was done to assure all non-Russian nationalities of complete equality. At the same time, "it w^s also made to