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PARTISAN REVIEW
some areas it has pushed them back to stages of historical development
they had long left behind. The monarchist stage among others. In
Russia a personal regime is in power. That, of course, can be denied
only by blockheads." This short conversation was soon interrupted.
Moreover, Brecht stressed in this connection that with the dissolution
of the First International, Marx and Engels lost contact with the
workers' movement and henceforth sent only private advice, not
intended for publication, to individual leaders. Nor was it by chance–
though regrettable-that Engels finally turned to natural science.
Bela Kun was, he said, his greatest admirer in Russia. Brecht and
Heine were the only German lyric poets he favored. (Brecht occasion–
ally alluded to a certain man in the Central Committee who supported
him .)
25th July.
Yesterday morning Brecht came over to show me his
Stalin poem, entitled "The Farmer to his Oxen." At first I could not see
the point; and when, after a moment, the thought of Stalin crossed my
mind I did not dare hold on to it. This effect corresponded roughly to
Brecht's intention. He explained it in the ensuing conversation,
stressing, among other things, the positive moment in the poem. It did
indeed pay tribute to Stalin who, in his view, had immense merits. But
he was not yet dead. Moreover he, Brecht, was not entitled to pay any
other, more enthusiastic tribute; he was in exile waiting for the Red
Army. He was following Russian developments; and equally the
writings of Trotsky. They prove that grounds for suspicion exist;
justified suspicion that called for a sceptical view of Russian affairs.
Such scepticism was in the spirit of the classical writers. Should the
suspicions one day be confirmed, one would have
to
oppose the
regime-and that means
publicly.
But, "alas, or thank God, whichever
you prefer," this suspicion was not yet a certainty. To derive a policy
like Trotsky'S from it would be irresponsible. "On the other hand, the
fact that certain criminal cliques are at work in Russia itself is beyond
doubt.
It
can be seen periodically from their misdeeds." Finally Brecht
emphasized that we were injured inwardly by this regression. "We have
paid for our position; we are covered in scars. It is natural that we are
also particularly sensitive."
Towards evening Brecht found me in the garden reading-Das
Kapital.
Brecht: "I am very pleased to see you studying Marx now-at a
time when he is less and less in evidence, above all among our people."
I replied that I preferred to read much-discussed books when they were
out of fashion. We went on to talk about Russian policy towards
literature. "With these people," I said, referring to Lukacs, Gabor,
Kurella, "you just cannot build a state." Brecht: "Or
only
a state, but
