Letter to Jan Frankel, April 12, 1939

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Diego Rivera's Defection

Dear Friend:

This morning Excelsior published a sensational note under the heading, “Trotsky Breaks His Relations With the Painter, Diego Rivera.” The note is very vicious and contains various slanders, as is natural in such cases. One thing is clear from the note: the whole thing came from Rivera himself, from his babbling to different painters, artists and so on. The question of the house is largely and falsely presented. Now journalists will surely try to ask me or my collaborators about the matter. We will use the formula that we have nothing to communicate that could be of interest to the public. But further than that it is necessary to have in reserve a clear and short statement from the Pan-American Committee.

In previous letters I have insisted upon the refutation of three false assertions of Rivera’s. It continues to be necessary, but I believe that these concrete refutations of concrete assertions should have a preamble, which if absolutely necessary could be given to the press. This preamble or short statement could be in approximately the following form:

“The Pan-American Committee (directly or through a commission) has investigated a series of assertions made by Diego Rivera against LT and has found them absolutely devoid of any basis. On the contrary LT had done everything in his power on every occasion to defend Rivera against animus [hostile] critics. The Committee regrets that Rivera found it possible to spread false assertions without the slightest reason or foundation.” Something of this kind. It could also be used, not as a preamble, but as a conclusion for the longer statement; but I insist that it should be categorical in its essence and mild toward Rivera in its form. That is why I propose the word “regrets” and not “condemns.”

Please do not delay the investigation too long.

My best greetings,