Leon
Trotsky: Three Editorials
April
1930
[Writing
of Leon Trotsky, Vol. 2, 1930, New York 1975, p. 157 f.]
The
Shooting of Oppositionists
The
killing of
Blumkin was only a beginning. We are informed of the shooting of two
more Oppositionists, Comrades Silov and Rabinovich. Obviously, the
idiotic story about Oppositionists participating in sabotage of the
railroad system was meant to show something else, to create if you
like some kind of explanation for the Thermidorean attack on the
Bolshevik-Leninists. But Comrades Silov and Rabinovich had no
connection whatsoever with "sabotage" or railroads.
The
fact that Stalin has concealed till now that he shot Blumkin shows
that he has nothing to say to substantiate the current treacherous
assassination. Stalin's motives for these fresh crimes are to be
explained by the desire for vengeance and the usurper's alarm.
The
assassination does not intimidate the Opposition — of that there is
no need to speak; neither does it stop Stalin from contemplating
others. We have suffered heavily on account of the crimes of the
Stalinist apparatus. But we do not identify the apparatus with the
party. Punishment in reply to the murderous policy of the Stalinist
faction is the right of the party as a whole. It falls to us, who are
in its ranks.
Christian
Georgevitch Rakovsky in Danger
In
the last number of the Biulleten
we gave news of Comrade Rakovsky's health. Now we are in receipt of
new, even more disturbing information about his condition. We are
informed that at the beginning of March, Christian Georgevitch
suffered a severe heart attack. This was the second in recent times.
The attack came at six o'clock in the morning. The doctors feared for
Comrade Rakovsky's life unless he could be moved immediately for
climatic and sanatorium treatment. Comrade Rakovsky's next move —
to Barnaul — is disastrous.
On
March 26, the family of L.D. Trotsky sent a telegram from
Constantinople to the family of Rakovsky in Barnaul. The text of the
telegram read: "Extremely disturbed Christian's health." No
reply to this telegram has been received. It is perfectly obvious the
telegram was intercepted. In communicating these facts of a criminal
move against Comrade Rakovsky's life, we address these lines | afresh
to all friends, with a call to help save Rakovsky!
To
Our Friends Abroad
The
profound crisis that has shaken the Soviet economy and the party
imparts to the question of reliable connections with the Soviet Union
special sharpness and urgency. It is necessary to provide our
Biulleten
with an up-to-date inflow of correspondence, articles, and any
information in general from the USSR. This and other tasks can be
solved; all that is needed is initiative, ingenuity, and persistence.
We
turn to our friends abroad with a warm appeal not only to redouble
but to increase tenfold their efforts for the maintenance of our
Biulleten.
Don't miss any occasion to provide the help we need so badly, send
literature, get information, create or strengthen connections.
It
is necessary to send into Russia suitable addresses from abroad for
the systematic mailing of correspondence. The more addresses, the
wider the correspondence, the more fully and currently will the
Biulleten
be able to comment on the tasks of the October Revolution, which is
experiencing a profound crisis.
It
is necessary to follow carefully what is received from the USSR in
the way of letters and articles sent in good time to our editorial
board.
No
less important is it to send the Biulleten
into the USSR, even if only individual copies. The number of tourists
coming from the USSR and returning there is very great. Among them
the percentage sympathetic to us is significantly high, as our
friends abroad testify. Only correct organization is needed. It is
necessary to appoint special comrades to tie up the connections and
to make the most suitable arrangements for communication and
transport.
Don't
waste time! Get busy!