Leon Trotsky: Letter to Paolo Ravazzoli [Writing of Leon Trotsky, Vol. 13. Supplement (1929-1933), New York 1979, p. 188 f., title: “Reply to an Invitation”] Dear Comrade Santini: Forgive me for not having replied for such a long time. Your proposal that I write an open letter to the Italian workers is attractive. But the difficulty that hinders and paralyzes me almost every time I go to write something concrete on Italy is my ignorance of the country. Not only do I not follow the Italian press — even occasionally — but I have never had a prolonged contact with Italian workers in general, or with Italian communists. I would need some more important event to come along soon, to give me a point of departure. That is the difficulty. That does not mean that my reply to your proposal is no. I will try. I will not make a firm promise, because in many cases my promises to my Italian friends have gone unfulfilled. And in general I am not remiss in keeping promises. The explanation for this is as I have told you above: it is very difficult to throw oneself into the unknown. Right now I am completely submerged in matters of the Russian economy. The situation is very tragic. Stalin’s report is in screaming contradiction with reality. I believe the months to come will be decisive. I would be very happy to hear the evaluations and impressions of the Italian comrades who attended or participated in the preconference. My warmest communist greetings, L. Trotsky |
Leon Trotsky > 1933 >