Letter to the Leadership of the Communist League of America, April 4, 1931

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Will Help New Publishing House

To the Leadership of the Communist League of America

Dear Comrades:

I read your letter of March 18 to the International Secretariat with the greatest interest. It valuably supplemented Comrade Shachtman’s letter of March 4 in many ways. The educational work you are carrying out and which you are attempting to expand seems excellent. We cannot seriously approach the masses without theoretically steeling our own cadre at the same time. The old Austrian grouplets, who for years contented themselves with issuing agitational flyers, are revealing their total inadequacy the first time they are put to the test. Unfortunately the German Opposition paper, Kommunist, follows the same style: imitation of a political paper directed toward the “broad” masses, etc.

For my part I will do everything in my power to render assistance to the publishing house you are in the process of developing. As Comrade Shachtman informs me, your National Committee requests me to name someone in the United States who should undertake the publication of my works. I trust Comrade Shachtman is well enough informed on these matters and if his time permits, I would welcome his taking this task upon himself. In any case, the choice is completely up to you. The pamphlets you have published are well translated and excellently produced. I am awaiting Comrade Cannon’s introduction to the pamphlet on syndicalism with great interest.

Enclosed is the manuscript of the International Opposition’s draft platform on the Russian question. I would be very pleased if it were possible for you to publish the document, perhaps in pamphlet form. This might form the basis for the development of a useful discussion within the ranks of the League and perhaps between the League and the official party and the Lovestone group. We have a rather advantageous position on the Russian question and all new events will certainly show that we were right. Hence we can go on the offensive with this question.

I find your plan to send Comrade Shachtman or another comrade to England for a considerable period very auspicious. Unfortunately the financial situation is tight everywhere at the moment. If there is a possibility of realizing this plan, I hope the comrade in question will visit me on the way home.

I am very sorry that I am not well enough informed about American matters. I am at present collecting a rather large amount of material and hope to evaluate it in the interests of the American Opposition, even if not in the next few months.

If someone is really coming to Europe, he can take part in the European conference which in any case will not be able to take place until after the German and French national conferences. But will you be able to do without one of the leading comrades in the period of preparation for your own conference? Hardly.

With best communist greetings.

Yours,

L. Trotsky