LETTERS
175
novelist and journalist who escaped from Russia in 1935 with the aid of
Andre Gide, lgnazio Silone and other writers.
Julian Gerkin was a leader of the Spanish workingc:lass party, the
P.O.U.M.
Gustave Regier was also prominent, as a high commander in the mili–
tary forces, in the heroic struggle of the Spanish Republic.
Grandiso Muniz was a Spanish revolutionary Socialist who worked with
the P.O.U.M. in the Spanish Civil War and narrowly escaped execution
by Franco.
Such are the records of these refugees, now accused by the Mexican
Communist Party of being Hitler's agents. As American anti-fascists, we
have greatly admired the Mexican government for its generous hospitality
to Europe's anti-fascist refugees. We have every confidence that your
government will not allow itself to be influenced by this disgusting cam–
paign of vilification.
We must also point out the need for utmost vigilance by the Mexican
authorities against possible murder attempts. Already the Communist
press is calling for the formation of "Vigilante Committees" to deal with
these alleged "Nazi Fifth Columnists." We need hardly remind your
excellency that it was a "Vigilante Committee," led by David Siquieros, a
leading member of the Mexican Communist Party, that perpetrated the
machine-gun raid on Trotsky's house and later murdered one of his body–
guards.
We are confident the Mexican Government will know how to deal
with this reign of terror against refugees whose only "crime" is that they
are opponents of the Communist International.
In closing, allow us to congratulate your country, through yourself, on
its enlightened, humane, and generous policy of hospitality to the lovers
of
freedom from all lands where freedom has temporarily vanished.
Eo. NoTE:
Among the more than 200 signers of the letter were:
Louis Adamic
6eorge Baldanzi {executive vice-president,
Textile Workers Union)
Roger Baldwin
Rllph Bates
Alfred M. Bingham
William E. Bohn (editor, The New Leoder)
Anita Brenner
Andre Breton
Dorothy Dunbar Bromley
Van Wyck Brooks
James Burnham
Welter B. Cannon (professor of physiology,
Horvord University)
John Chamberlain
6eorge S. Counts (president, Americon
Federotion of Teachers)
Walter Damrosch
Maurice P. Davidson (d irector, N. Y. Stote
Power Authority)
Ned H. Dearborn {dean of odult educo-
tion, New York University)
John Dewey
John Dos Panos
David Dubinsky
Max Eastman
Irwin Edman
Ethel P. Epstein (lobor secretery to Meyor
laGuardie)
James T. Farrell
Waldo Frank
Samuel H. Friedman {editor, The Coli)
Carl J. Friedrichs (professor of govern-
ment, Herverd University)
Miguel Garriga {vice-president, Hotel
&
Restouront Employees Union)
Harry Gideonse {president, Brooklyn Col–
lege )
Frank P. Graham {pres. U. of North Core–
line ; member, the President's Wer Leber
Boerd)
John Green (president, Industriol Union of
Morine ond Shipbuilding Workers of
Americo)
Adolph Held (president, /'..nelgomoted
Benk ; cheirman, Jewish Lebor Commit–
tee)
Granville Hicks
Julius Hochman (generel menoger, Joint
Boord, Dress
&
Weistmokers Union of
Greeter New York)
Sidney Hook
Quincy Howe
Stanley M. Isaacs {member, N. Y. City.
Council)
Freda Kirchwey
Gertrude Weil Klein {member N. Y. City
Council ; generel orgenizer, Amelge–
moted Clothing Workers)
