Correspondence
between Nora Connolly O'Brien and Leon Trotsky
These letters, dated 28 April and 6 June 1936, were first published
in Workers Republic, journal of the League for a Workers
Republic, Dublin, no 122, 1989. The spelling in Trotsky's letter
has been corrected
where necessary.
Both of these letters are currently in print in Revolutionary
History,
Volume 6, no 2/3 along with much other invaluable information on
the Trotskyism movement in Ireland. See the Archives above for their
Website.
Nora Connolly O'Brien to Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky to Nora Connolly O'Brien
36 Belgrave Square
Rathmines
Dublin
Ireland
28 April 1936
Dear Comrade,
A comrade here has promised to get this letter to you.
First to introduce myself. I am the daughter of James Connolly,
a worker in the Socialist movement all his life, and as you
know, Commandant
General in the Rising of Easter Week in 1916. He was executed.
I learn that you are extremely interested in Ireland, and the
development of the revolutionary movements here. If you desire
it, I would
gladly supply you with whatever items of information you require.
There is
not at present any Labour paper, but there will be by the end
of May. I will send you copies if you wish them. There is one
paper
issued
by the National Revolutionaries, the Irish Republican Army,
and one issued by the CP. These also I will send if you wish.
I hold an official position in the Irish Citizen Army, I am
a member of the Irish Labour Party, and am in close touch with
the officials
of the Irish Republican Army.
The Labour Party recently adopted a new programme and constitution,
the first step towards achieving the leading role in the revolutionary
movement in Ireland. The new programme is not yet a correct
revolutionary one, but it is such an enormous advance on the
previous one, that
we are not indulging in any carping or cavilling criticism.
Through it
they can supply an alternative to Fianna FáiI (the majority
Republican party in the Irish parliament, An Dáil)
as by adopting James Connolly's doctrine of the twin ideals
of national
and social
independence they have ended the divorce between the national
and
Labour movements. This programme will be ready shortly. I could
also send
you a copy.
This is not much of a letter, really it is only to establish
contact.
Nora Connolly O'Brien
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Norway
6 June 1936
Dear Comrade,
I was very touched by your kind letter. A great deal of circumstances
prevented me from writing to you immediately. I always
have been greatly interested in Ireland, but unfortunately my
interest remained
only
platonic. I never had the opportunity to study in detail
Irish history and politics. Since my early days I have
got, through
Marx and Engels,
the greatest sympathy and esteem for the heroic struggle
of the Irish for their independence. The tragic fate
of your courageous
father met
me in Paris during the war. I bear him faithfully in
remembrance. I made up my mind to read your book about your father
in
the very
next
time.
The revolutionary tradition of the national struggle is a
precious good. Would it be possible to imbue the Irish
proletariat with
it for its Socialist class struggle, the working class
of your country could,
in spite of the numerical weakness of your population,
play an important historical role and give a mighty impulse to
the British
working class
now paralysed by the senile bureaucracy.
I take the liberty to send you in the same time my little
book, In Defence of Terrorism.
Leon Trotsky
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