Part Two
Memorie.al / Several archival documents extracted from the Central State Archive, where the archival fund of the former Central Committee of the PPSH (Party of Labor of Albania) is located, shed light on the unknown correspondence between the main leader of communist Albania, Enver Hoxha, and the British figure Bertrand Russell, the renowned left-wing philosopher, who, by the mid-1960s, when he decided to write to Albania’s number-one leader, had already passed his 90s. His suggestions on the war that needed to 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 Schoeman, to Tirana. For more on this, etc., the archival documents we are publishing below in this article inform us.
Continued from the previous issue
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH INFORMATION ON THE ENGLISH LEFT-WING PHILOSOPHER BERTRAND RUSSELL, SENT TO ENVER HOXHA, AND THE PROGRAM FOR HIS VISIT TO ALBANIA
Information
- On the English philosopher Bertrand Russell
From the correspondence and documents sent, these main views of Russell emerge:
a) American imperialism is the main enemy of the peoples of the world. It is necessary to isolate it through resistance and not with words.
b) Action committees should be created in various countries to organize support for the Vietnamese people.
c) The “Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation” is preparing a tribunal to try Johnson, Dean Rusk, and Robert McNamara as war criminals for the aggression in Vietnam.
d) The Soviet Union is making too many concessions to the USA in matters of peace. In case the Soviet Union wants to play an important role in the struggle for national liberation anywhere in the world, it must change its policy.
e) It is important to have unity, but more important is that unity be based on principles and not on opportunism.
f) The path to ensuring peace is the people’s war of the oppressed against American control of the world’s wealth. If the Soviet Union – if it wants peace, which is debatable – seeks to gain does not favor from the USA by minimizing or opposing the struggle for national liberation and socialism, peace nor can justice be achieved.
g) The danger of a nuclear war cannot be removed by fearing US power, but by isolating the American imperialists and resisting their actions, success will be achieved against their nuclear blackmail.
His representative, Schoeman, who comes to Albania on June 28, 1966, appears to be of American nationality but lives in England. He is about 30 years old. He has called on American soldiers in Vietnam to return to their country.
At the Peace Congress in Helsinki, he openly stood up in favor of our delegation and against the anti-democratic methods used by the Congress leaders towards the Albanian delegation.
III. Proposals
From Russell’s correspondence, it appears that his representative comes to Albania mainly to present the views of the English philosopher and to discuss them. Besides political views, he will also present Russell’s plan for publications and political activities, which he has not specified.
He would also like to have Comrade Enver’s opinion on these. Perhaps on this occasion and for this purpose, he may also request some financial assistance. Schoeman is expected to stay at most one week. We propose that he be the guest of our Peace Council. We will prepare a program of visits in our country.
25.VI.1966
REPORT OF THE ALBANIAN AMBASSADOR KRISTAQ MISHA, SENT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE FOREIGN DIRECTORATE IN THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PPSH, REGARDING THE PACKAGE THAT BERTRAND RUSSELL SENT TO ENVER HOXHA
To the Central Committee of the PPSH
(Comrade Pirro Bita)
Tirana
Enclosed, we are sending you a package from Bertrand Russell, addressed to Comrade Enver Hoxha, which was delivered to us on July 12 by two representatives of Russell’s secretariat.
Ambassador:
(Kristaq Misha)
THE LETTER OF ENVER HOXHA, SENT TO THE ENGLISH LEFT-WING PHILOSOPHER BERTRAND RUSSELL, ON APRIL 11, 1966
Dear Mr. Bertrand Russell,
I read with attention and special interest your letter, which touches upon the great, vital issue for all peoples – the common cause of the struggle against American imperialism and its collaborators, for the preservation of peace and international security.
The respect you show for the Albanian people, for the People’s Republic of Albania, for the Albanian Government, which are building socialism and fighting resolutely against American imperialism, and which follow with sympathy every undertaking of yours that aims at the defense of peace.
The Albanian people have heard your voice against the aggressive American imperialist war and have hailed in your person the distinguished fighter who serves the cause of peace, fighting against and rejecting the chauvinistic concepts that divide small and large peoples, and which assess their merits according to the size of their states.
Your manly and honest stance, the appreciation you give to the struggle of the Albanian people, remind us of your compatriot, the great admirer and friend of Albania, the famous English poet, G. G. Byron, who, inspired by the bravery, character, and virtues of our people, in the immortal work “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage,” among other things, wrote with love about the Albanians:
“Rough sons of Albania,
Yet virtues they possess,
In hour of peril and of need;
Fierce foes in war,
But faithful friends indeed!”
Following the national traditions of our ancestors, regarding the stance towards friends and enemies, and the open expression of opinions, through this letter, we wish to speak with you, dear friend of our people, with an open heart, and to express our sincere view regarding the problem that concerns us: the defense of peace.
The opinion of the Albanian people and their government is that freedom, peace, democracy, and the security of peoples today are seriously threatened by American imperialism, by the aggressive adventurous policy of the Johnson administration, as well as by the treacherous policy of capitulation, alms-giving, and collaboration with the imperialist aggressors pursued by the current revisionist leadership of the Soviet Union. Many facts and concrete actions prove this. Not only that.
Following closely the aggressive activities of American imperialism and its allies, as well as the stance of the current Soviet leaders, we have become convinced that both of these great powers, systematically and in full coordination with each other, are working for the complete preparation of war against the People’s Republic of China and other peoples.
Their main target is freedom-loving China, because the Chinese people are waging a determined struggle against American imperialism, because it actively supports the oppressed peoples of the world who have taken up arms to throw off the imperialist yoke, because People’s China has become an insurmountable obstacle to the plans of the American imperialists and the Khrushchevites, who strive for world domination and the division of spheres of influence between them.
Therefore, our opinion is that under current conditions, the people’s war against imperialist aggressors will truly be effective if the unmasking of American imperialism is accompanied by the exposure of the diabolical game played by its partners of all shades.
Cooperation with the Soviet revisionist leaders for this purpose would have dangerous consequences for the cause of peace and freedom of the peoples. The Albanian people are against any cooperation with the partners and collaborators of American imperialism.
The Albanian people and their government are and will remain solidly allied and determined comrades-in-arms with all those forces that effectively oppose American imperialism, that strike and smash its positions, its world domination; we stand by all the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and all the peoples of Europe and America who fight against the American imperialist yoke, against American exploitation.
We express our opinion openly. It may possibly differ in some respects from your opinion. But we know that we are expressing these views to a respected friend of our small people and country. We are ready to welcome your representative, Mr. Ralph Schoeman, with pleasure, at any time you deem appropriate. This would be another good opportunity to exchange our views again, to strengthen cooperation in the fight against American imperialism.
Please accept, dear Bertrand Russell, our warmest greetings and best wishes for your health and personal happiness, for ever greater successes in your very noble work of fighting against American imperialism, the common enemy of the peoples, for freedom and peace in the world. / Memorie.al
With special honors and respect,
Enver Hoxha
Tirana, April 11, 1966
(Prepared by Agim Isaku)
