Leon
Trotsky: Letter to Raymond Molinier and Pierre Frank
July
1, 1940
[Writings
of Leon Trotsky, Vol 12, 1939-1940, New York ²1973,
p. 300, title: “Avuncular
Advice”
Dear
Nephews:
I
received your letters of the 25th of May on time, but I didn't
understand from them the practical purpose of your message, to me, It
could be understood that you wish to be reconciled with your father
and the whole family. Of course I would be glad to serve as an
intermediary in such a case. But you must understand that after my
previous attempts which ended so lamentably by your fault, I am ten
times more cautious than before. Unfortunately your letter doesn't
dissipate my doubts. You say that everybody made his conclusions from
the experiences, that these experiences are possibly not the same for
all but nothing can hinder all from coming to the same conclusions in
the future. It is extremely vague. The family of your father has its
traditions, its rules of conduct, and is proud of these traditions
and rules. I don't believe your father would be ready to change his
conceptions and methods as a price for reconciliation with you. Every
member of the family has the right to propose, to express his ideas,
and to defend them. Your parents are tolerant enough, but if you wish
to live and to act with the family you must be loyal to it,
especially now, in the tragic times we live in. If you made this
conclusion from the past, seriously and definitely, then a sincere
reconciliation wouldn’t present any difficulties, and I would be
glad to enter into direct conversations with your father about the
matter; but only under these conditions. I hope you will believe that
acting so, I am guided exclusively by your interests and those of our
family as a whole.
With
best wishes,
Your
uncle Leon
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