Letter to Albert Glotzer, June 3, 1932

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Shachtman’s “Character

Dear Comrade Glotzer:

Many thanks for the return of the materials. As for your latest letter, I can only regret that under bad influence you wish to reduce the questions which separate Shachtman from the most important [leaders] of the European Opposition to the question of whether Molinier or Treint are to be regarded as good leaders. That is the way the question is put by Rosmer, Naville, and other Philistines who find Marxism and revolution unbearable but haven’t the courage to openly defend their anarchist views. To reduce two years of internal struggle to whether Molinier is fit to be a leader is really pitiful and inexorably compromises those who admit to such a view.

Weisbord spent a few weeks in our house. We had rather extensive discussions. I was sharp and completely frank in giving him my opinion on the views and methods of his group. The dispute concerned principled questions, and I must tell you in this private letter that I prefer Weisbord’s method to Shachtman’s a hundred times over: Shachtman plays with ideas and makes combinations, while Weisbord is completely serious about things. Shachtman has never openly and honestly declared what he stands for, what he is fighting for, and with whom. He gave the Jewish Group in Paris the right to invoke his authority, and Lacroix and Nin as well. In doing so he simply helped them slide further downhill, since they think that the entire American League is behind Shachtman. After two years of maneuvering by Shachtman, after dozens of admonishing letters from me, and continually evasive, petty diplomatic letters from Shachtman that always bordered on intrigue, I officially inquired of your leadership whether they support Shachtman’s international views. I did not know anything about the [CLA’s] internal differences. My question was meant exactly as written. Shachtman assured me of his solidarity in a sugary letter and at the same time sent word to Barcelona that I was initiating an international campaign against him. In the meanwhile, without knowing anything about this, I wrote to Shachtman and the leadership of the American League that Shachtman should withdraw his resignation, that his work in a leading position was necessary, etc. I said to myself that perhaps my letter prompted Shachtman’s resignation, and immediately took steps to counter its effect. Where in this is a “campaign” and especially “an international campaign” against Shachtman? What has all this to do with Molinier’s character? It concerns Shachtman’s “character,” and unfortunately after all that has happened I cannot place any confidence in it. I feel duty bound to tell you this without any adornment, so that there will be no illusions between us.

With best greetings.

Yours,

L. Trotsky