TLS in English, signed “L. Trotsky,” one page, 7 x 9, November 8, 1933. Letter to Comrade [John] Paton, asking for "advice regarding the German comrade, Maria Reese." In part: "Certainly, you must have heard of her. In its time she went over from the socialist party to the communist and played a considerable role in the revolutionary movement as member of the Reichstag and as an outstanding mass speaker. She has just broken with the Comintern and gave publicity to this fact in our German paper, 'Unser Wort.'
She is now faced with the problem of her future life and activity in the years of emigration. She knows the English language and would perfect it in a short time. In the past she had had journalistic experience. Her main strength lies in mass agitation, especially among women. Can we be lead to believe that she could find a field for activity in England and that her political work would assure her a livelihood?" In very good to fine condition, with light creasing, a short edge tear, and a small area of thin paper to the right edge.
Accompanied by a carbon copy of Paton's reply, explaining that he does know of Maria Reese but that coming to England will be very difficult and finding paid work even harder. Although he and the Independent Labour Party would be very happy to meet her if she did come to England, he warns: "England is one of the most illiberal countries in the world now with regard to its treatment of the foreigner who is poor."
Maria Reese (1889-1958) was a German teacher who became a writer and journalist. She was also politically active, and sat as a member of the national parliament (Reichstag) between 1928 and 1933. For most of her time in the Reichstag she was a Communist member. However, in 1933, after spending time in Moscow she became appalled by the careerist functionaries surrounding Stalin. She managed to escape from the Soviet Union and pursued a complicated political trajectory which included a period working for the Nazi government in the Anti-Comintern department of the Propaganda Ministry. Trotsky published a supportive article about Reese’s letter and her views in an article titled ‘Maria Reese and the Comintern’ in The Militant, November 25, 1933.
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