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Lot 248
Trotsky, Leon (1879-1940) Bolshevik revolutionary and Marxist theorist; in the early days of the Soviet Union he was People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, then founder and commander of the Red Army and People's Commissar of War. After Lenin's death, Trotsky was defeated in a struggle with Stalin for control of the Communist Party; he was expelled from the party and deported from Russia. He lived in exile in Mexico, where he was assassinated by a Soviet agent.
Typed letter signed ("L. Trotsky"), 1 page, in French, 10 7/8 x 8 3/8 in., Taxco, Gro, May 5, 1937. To comrades (George) Novack and (Felix) Morrow. He writes that he thinks it would be a mistake to admit Waldo Franck to the Commission (of Inquiry of The American Committee for the Defense of Leon Trotsky). Franck had made Trotsky a promise to make a public statement in favor of the Commission of Inquiry but he had done nothing and had not even found it necessary to make an excuse or to explain himself. "A man who acts in such a manner is not worthy of confidence. I do not believe that one could now, that is to say after the Coyoacán meetings, after the resignation of Beals and after the Stalinist campaign, change the 'reputation' of the Commission by the introduction of Stalinist or 'Stalinistic' [stalinisants] members. No Stalinist with loyal intentions will join now. To the contrary. One can be sure that only the worst rabble would be able to accept the invitation…The Commission can become and will become an indiputable authority for everyone solely and exclusively by its work and publications. It would be absolutely fatal to alienate the members of the Commission by seeking artificially to introduce Stalinists. When the Commission was created, it was possible to think otherwise. But now the situation has become completely clear. We have to maintain the Commission as it is. We have to give it every opportunity to lead its work to a conclusion as soon as possible." Trotsky explains that he is writing in French because he finds himself outside of Mexico, separated from Wolfe, "the only Yankee among us." Bernard Wolfe was Trotsky's secretary while Trotsky was in Mexico. George Novack was secretary of the American Committee for the Defense of Leon Trotsky. Felix Morrow was a leading figure figure in American Trotskyism.
In May 1937, the Commission of Inquiry into the Charges Made against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials, commonly known as the Dewey Commission, was set up in the United States by supporters of Trotsky, to establish the truth about the trials. The commission was headed by the noted American philosopher and educator John Dewey. Although the hearings were obviously conducted with a view to proving Trotsky's innocence, they brought to light evidence which established that some of the specific charges made at the trials could not be true. The Dewey Commission later published its findings in a 422-page book titled Not Guilty. Letter is toned,with a split rust mark from a paper clip, and normal folds.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500.
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