Part One
Memorie.al /Several archival documents extracted from the Central State Archive, where the archival fond of the former Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania is located, shed light on the unknown correspondence of the main leader of communist Albania, Enver Hoxha, with the British thinker Bertrand Russell, the renowned left-wing philosopher, who, in the mid-1960s, when he decided to write to Albania’s number-one leader, was already in his nineties. His suggestions regarding the war that should be waged against “American imperialism” and Enver’s views on the points raised by his British friend, who at that time also sent his representative, Ralph Schoenman, to Tirana. For more on this, etc., we are informed by the archival documents that we are publishing below in this article.
Declaration for the Press by Bertrand Russell
The United States has brought to the forefront every savagery that can be presented to a trial of war crimes. The first concentration camps were set up and eight million people placed in them were forced into forced labor. Then poisons and napalm were used against the civilian population. All this was done under the direction of American officers. The U.S. government has persistently extended its actions.
The latest example of the barbarism of the American imperialists is the indiscriminate use of cyanide and poison gases. Without a shred of shame, they have lied by saying they are “not poisonous”. The latest case seen with Australian soldiers who died (who had gas masks), from the effect of these gases which they themselves had dropped.
This is the latest dishonesty of the U.S. authorities. Those in the West who have collaborated to deceive the peoples of Western countries are just as guilty for this event as the Germans who followed Hitler’s actions. Western intellectuals and journalists bear a heavy responsibility.
Let the peoples of the whole world call for President Johnson, Dean Rusk, and Robert McNamara to be brought to trial as war criminals, and let all peoples unreservedly support the Vietnamese people in their national war.
(Bertrand Russell)
January 14, 1966
LETTER PREPARED BY THE “BERTRAND RUSSELL PEACE FOUNDATION” SENT TO ENVER HOXHA ON JANUARY 20, 1966
“Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation”
January 20, 1966
To Prime Minister Enver Hoxha
Tirana
Albania
Dear Prime Minister Hoxha,
I am writing to tell you about our plans regarding the recognition, exposure, and isolation of American imperialism and all those who collaborate with it. In Britain, we have begun a campaign against imperialism, the main lines of which were included in my message to the Helsinki Conference.
I was very impressed by the discussion my secretary had with the leader of the Albanian delegation. The two were in complete agreement. I am sending you along with this letter declarations which I hope may be of service to you.
In them, there are a number of very important plans, about which I would be grateful to learn your opinion. In this regard, I would also be grateful if it were possible for Mr. Ralph Schoenman to visit Albania as my representative. I feel convinced that you will find our proposals in accordance with your own views. I greatly await your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Bertrand Russell
Text of Bertrand Russell’s Declaration for Radio Moscow
It appears to be the policy of the United States to make all of Latin America satellites of the American Government. I hope that the Solidarity Conference in Cuba will show America the feelings of this movement. Wherever the U.S. wants something, it is a bad thing. They want subservient, obedient governments, with corrupt people, parasitic people who help the United States to suppress national liberation movements everywhere.
At this moment, this is the greatest danger threatening the world. The problem facing all friends of freedom everywhere is: Can America be stopped without a nuclear war? For the solution of this problem, the Soviet Union has an important part to play. It has appeared that the Soviet Union, in the matter of pursuing peace, is making too many concessions to the United States.
In case the Soviet Union is to play a useful role in the struggle for national liberation everywhere in the world, it must change its policy. For this, the Soviet Union can do a great deal. In every country of Latin America, there are large parties that are concerned with national freedom and with exploiting their own natural resources themselves. For every country in Latin America, with the exception of Cuba, the party in power, the party that has the government, is a subservient servant of the U.S.A.
The governments of a number of Latin American countries are handing over the wealth of their countries to American imperialism, thus further prolonging the poverty of their workers. The countries of Latin America are refraining from giving their power to the United States for fear of U.S. militarism. The Soviet Union achieved victory after great, many-year wars and now it must help other countries to [do the same].
Bertrand Russell Peace Association
April 27, 1966
LETTER FROM THE ENGLISH LEFT-WING PHILOSOPHER BERTRAND RUSSELL, SENT TO ENVER HOXHA ON MAY 16, 1966
To Prime Minister Enver Hoxha
Tirana
Albania
Dear Prime Minister Hoxha,
I received your letter with very great pleasure and I value it extremely highly. I fully agree with your opinion that it is necessary to oppose U.S. imperialism, and especially its present brutality in Vietnam.
I am also of the opinion that the Soviet Union has often cooperated with the United States, with bad consequences, both for world peace and for social rights.
We wish to make known, as much as possible, the tasks that face the peoples of the West, in order to effectively oppose the militarists and capitalists, who have made the world an object of exploitation and domination.
We have a series of plans for publication and plans for political activities, about which I would like to have your opinion. Your kindness in accepting my personal representative is extremely valued, and I would like to suggest that he visit Tirana, as you say, in the second week of June.
You may be interested in the text of his speech given recently via Radio Hanoi to the American soldiers fighting in South Vietnam. I look forward to hearing about the future of your discussions.
With warm thanks and regards,
Yours sincerely,
Bertrand Russell
d.v.
16.V.1966
Translated by V.C.
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH INFORMATION ON THE ENGLISH LEFT-WING PHILOSOPHER BERTRAND RUSSELL, SENT TO ENVER HOXHA
Information
I. On the English philosopher Bertrand Russell
- On January 26, 1966, the English philosopher Bertrand Russell addressed a letter to Comrade Enver Hoxha, in which he informed him about his plans regarding the recognition, exposure, and isolation of American imperialism and all those who collaborate with it.
He wrote that a campaign against imperialism had begun in [Britain], the main lines of which were included in his message to the World Peace Congress in Helsinki. Along with the letter, Russell also sent some of his own declarations; “in them,” he said, “there are a number of very important plans” about which he would like to know Comrade Enver’s opinion.
At the same time, Russell requested that his representative, Ralph Schoenman, visit Albania. In his reply of April 11, 1966, Comrade Enver, after presenting the views of our party regarding the problems of ensuring peace and the fight against American imperialism and Khrushchevite revisionism, expressed readiness to receive Ralph Schoenman in Albania. In his letter of April 27, 1966, Bertrand Russell raises the following issues:
– he values Comrade Enver’s reply extremely highly,
– he fully agrees with our opinion that it is necessary to oppose U.S. imperialism and especially its present brutality in Vietnam,
– he is of the opinion that the Soviet Union has often cooperated with the U.S.A. with bad consequences, both for world peace and for social rights,
– he wishes to make known the tasks that face the peoples of the West, in order to effectively oppose the militarists and capitalists, who have made the world an object of exploitation and domination,
– he has a series of plans for publication and plans for political activities, about which he wishes to have Comrade Enver’s opinion as well,
– he values extremely highly the readiness to receive his representative in Albania and suggests that this visit take place in the first week of June.
Along with the two letters above, Bertrand Russell has also sent several of his declarations made during the years 1965-1966, which address the problem of the struggle against American imperialism.
II. Who is Russell and what are his views?
Bertrand Russell is an English pacifist and anti-imperialist philosopher. Although over 90 years old, in recent years he has left the English Labour Party and has participated very actively in anti-war movements, especially distinguishing himself for his open and militant stances against American aggression in Vietnam.
Even from his correspondence with Comrade Enver, it appears that he has faith in the supposedly anti-imperialist policy of the current Soviet leadership. He is the founder of the “Bertrand Russell Peace Association”.Memorie.al
Prepared by Agim Isaku
To be continued in the next issue
