Sir: As this is a subject of some historical im-
portance, I hope you will allow me a rejoinder to Tibor Szamuely (Letters, 18 April).
First, I of course accept his factual correc- tions regarding items in Khrushchev's 'secret speech.' I was 2,000 miles away when I wrote and had perforce to rely on my normally pretty good memory. I must maintain, however, that my objections to Koestler's theory (endorsed by Mr Szamuely) are nevertheless still sound. If it is accepted that physical torture was used on Stalin's victims, what is the point in working up subtle psycho- logical explanations for their confessions of crimes they never committed? When Krestinsky bravely-retracted his confession in open court (as I mentioned in a letter in the srEcra-roa 3 few months ago), he was clearly then not trying to save the phoney socialism of Stalin. And when he retracted his retraction the following day, it is equally clear that his brave spirit had
en broken by more torture, and not by ychological qualms. In the same letter I referred to the arguments n the 'thirties of apologists like D. N. Pritt,
, who `proved' that torture was not used,by .talin. But once it has been established that this as untrue, it must be explanation enongh for imple people like me. And, I fancy, for history.
I am surprised that Mr Szamuely seeks to use he revelations by the Czechs of statements by Slansky and Clementis to support the Koestler thesis. His argument is, and must be, a circular one unless he can prove that neither of these people was afraid of physical torture being used on them (and on their families). I am no more or less a coward than the next man, but show me a thumbscrew and I will make any statement you like.
Finally, 1 am told that Rubashov, the hero of Darkness at Noon, had both physical and psychological pressure upon him. I fancy there is little difficulty in trumping this ace. For Rubashov was Trotsky and no amount of psychological pressure to save Stalin's phoney socialism caused Trotsky to do any confessing. And why not? Simply because he was out of reach of Stalin's torturers; QED, I think.
L. E. Weidberg 14 Templewood Avenue, Hampstead, London NW3
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