Letter to Joseph Vanzler, November 21, 1933

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On Calling for Soviets in Cuba

Dear Comrade Vanzler:

Thank you very much for your marvelous translations. I am only troubled by the fact that you refuse payment for the work: you know you could dispose of the money as you see fit. I gave the fee for the first two translations to the pay desk of the Russian Biulleten, where it will be entered under your name.

In your article about Cuba, it is correct, of course, that we cannot set ourselves the conquest of power as an immediate task if the majority of the rural and urban petty bourgeoisie does not follow us. This can be achieved only by a direct and open struggle against the “national” bourgeoisie and the opportunist leaders of the petty bourgeoisie. I do not understand, however, why you declare yourself against the creation of soviets or organs very similar to soviets. Soviets are the organs of the conquest of power only in the final analysis. In general, soviets in revolutionary conditions constitute the basic form of fighting organization of the proletariat and the layers that are joining it. To reject the creation of soviets is possible only in the event that insuperable external conditions prevent it. But there are not and cannot be tactical considerations that would demand that revolutionary socialists reject the slogan of soviets in conditions when their creation is wholly possible.

With warm regards.

Yours,

L.T.