The Class Nature of the Soviet Union. Two Articles by Leon Trotsky: 'Once Again; the U.S.S.R. and its Defence.' [...] 'The U.S.S.R.; Non-Proletarian and non-Bourgeoise State?' [With anonymous foreword discussing Trotsky's 'political tendency'.]

Mimeographed and stapled. [i] + iii + 17 pp. Printed on eleven leaves, the first two and last two 26 x 21 cm, and the middle seven leaves 25.5 x 20 cm. Fair, on foxed paper with wear to extremities. It would appear that the leaves of the two articles had been printed previously, and were newly bound up here with the preliminary matter. The first articles is, according to the title 'Taken from "Fourth International", July Aug 1951. (American edition)' and the second 'Taken from "Workers International News", Sept-Oct 1946. (Then theoretical organ of the British section of the Fourth International.)' Simple sketch of Trotsky on cover. The 'Foreword' (pp.i-iii) is of interest. It attacks the 'period of Stalinist crimes, mistakes and outright betrayals in which all of the present leaders of the Communist movement participated right up to their necks', and supports 'the whole political tendency which Trotsky so brilliantly defended'. 'Whilst the leadership of the British Communist Party dances a twist on these issues the C.P. leaderships in Italy and in France have been compelled to say something publicly. They try to shrug it off but the development of political events themselves will take a hand in the struggle between Bolshevism and Stalinism, between internationalism and nationalism, between revolution and counter-revolution.' The only copy on COPAC is at Glasgow, with the item dated to 1958. The reference at the beginning of the 'Foreword' to 'The cautious and limited declarations by Khrushchev at the 20th and 22nd Congresses' date this item to after 1961.