Leon Trotsky: The Open Letter and the ILP

Autumn 1935

[Writing of Leon Trotsky, Vol. 14, New York 1979, p. 616]

Our group in the ILP feels uneasy about publicly signing the Open Letter. Perhaps they could resort to something like this: draw up a letter to the leadership of the ILP about the question of international affiliation. This document should point out the treachery of the Third International on the war question, the most burning of all, and call attention to the miserable position of the SAP (on disarmament), of the Swedish [Socialist] Party (you will soon receive material on this), and above all of Doriot — and it should conclude that the struggle against war and against sanctions is possible only under the banner of the Fourth International. Such a document signed by our sympathizers would have the same weight as signing the Open Letter, but it could not incriminate our comrades for a violation of discipline.