Purely Commentary

Svetlana's Views on Stalin ... Dictator's Anti-Semitism

Svetlana is in the limelight. Lengthy published interviews, quotes
from her letters and books and references to her attitude towards
her father and communism have become objects of great interest.
Hutchinson of London published. in Russian. Svetlana Stalin's
- Twenty I.etters to a Friend." and a review of the book by S. Leven-
iierg, in the London Jewish Observer and Middle East Review creates
a great deal of interest about Svetlana's Jewish references and her
personal life.
Levenberg commences with references to Lavrenti Beria, the
Georgian Communist who was the head of the USSR secret police
before he was purged. He is described by Svetlana as cruel, ambitious,
unscrupulous.
Then Levenberg comments on the role of Stalin, "a lonely figure,
Aithout friends," and Levenberg writes in his review:
"Of special interest is Svetlana's description of Stalin's attitude
to Jews. For the first time, we read unimpeachable evi-
dence about a subject which is of immense importance
for a real understanding of the Soviet system. In the
early years of the Communist regime. Stalin was not
known as an anti-Semite. -
llere we must halt to differ. There is no direct way
of prov ing the Stalin attitude one way or another. except
nsofar as the entire Communist program was antagonistic
to Judaism. to Hebrew culture and language, to Zionism. Stalin
But as far back as either 1935 or 1936 we were told by no less an
authority than the late Philip Adler that Stalin was not to be trusted.
'111.. late Mr. Adler. one of Detroit's most brilliant newspapermen, who
later (lied in a plane crash while on an assignment for the Detroit
News to Japan. told us upon his return from a study tour of Russia:
Stalin is a vile anti-Semite. Watch out for what he does. He is a
m enace — especially to the Jews."
It was upon his return from Russia and from other European
ountries where he witnessed the rising menace to
the .lewish people that Mr. Adler became a staunch
adherent of the Zionist cause and became a Re-
% isionist and a supporter of Vladimir Jabotinsky.
Levenberg, in his review of the Svetlana book,
proceeds to ask a question about Stalin: "What
were the motives behind the anti-Jewish campaign
during the late thirties and the last years of the
dictator's life (1948-53)?" He provides the answer
in the following analysis of the Svetlana book and
in his own comments:
"Svetlana does not provide a clear answer but
her book contains fascinating details about the
Jewish aspect of the 'dark years' in the Soviet
Philip Adler
Union.
"There were a number of Jews in Stalin's intimate circle prior
to the suicide of his young wife, Natalie Allilueva. But this did not
prevent them—as it did not prevent his many non-Jewish friends—
from being deported or murdered. There was Esther Gurvitz, who
stayed every year at Stalin's summer-resort. She was Buchann s
mother-in-law. But the latter—who was a famous Communist leader
and theoretician— was executed together with other Soviet personal-
ities. There was his sister-in-law (from his first wife) Marie Svanidze
—an educated and beautiful Jewish woman, a close friend of the
family — who was deported with her husband (the latter was shot, and
she (lied from a heart attack on receiving the news).
"Stalin's wife's closest colleagues at the University were two ;
Jewish women: Dora Chazan and Marie Kaganovich. But her closest
friend was Poline Molotov—the Jewish wife of the Soviet foreign
minister. After the incident at a banquet which led to Svetlana's
mother's suicide. Mrs. Molotov stayed with her till late in the night.
She was the first to be informed by the servants about the disaster.
Stalin considered her 'a bad influence' on his wife. She was later
deported for four years—in spite of Molotov's high party position.
"Pasha—Stalin's son from his first wife—was married to a
Jewish woman. lie was badly treated by Stalin. When he was taken
prisoner of war the Germans offered an exchange but Stalin did not
want to hear about it. The son was later executed by the Nazis. His
wife spent two years in prison; she was blamed for the fact that her
husband 'allowed' himself to be taken prisoner.
"It is difficult to judge what part Stalin's anti-Semitic sentiments
played in the treatment of his Jewish relatives and friends. Non-
Jewish members of the family suffered too; a number were either
sent to labor camps or murdered. Personal friends were not spared
by Stalin. The moment a person was declared an enemy' his fate

was sealed.
"What was behind all this? Svetlana does not deal with Soviet

foreign or home policy. But she does make it clear that her mother's
suicide made a deep impact on Stalin. The letter which she left
behind (never published) contained many accusations against her
husband and was not free from political undertone&
"Stalin was shattered. He considered his wife's act 'a betrayal',
a hostile act. lie did not go to her funeral. But he could never forget
her and deeply felt his loss—especially in the last part of his life.
His suspicions against other people deepened and he saw himself
surrounded by enemies. This gave a great chance to those, who knew
how to exploit this trait of his character; besides this, he was rude
and domineering. This is his daughter's explanation; whether it
provides a full answer to Stalin's cruelties is a different matter.
"It is clear from Svetlana's book that with the growth of Stalin's
suspicions and obsessions with his imagined enemies, his anti-Jewish
sentiments acquired a more pronounced character. She writes:
"'Julia (her step-brother's wife) was a Jewish women—
and once again aroused the dissatisfaction of my father. It is
true that in those years (1935/36) he had not yet expressed
his hatred for the Jews so clearly; this started later—after
the war. But in his heart he never felt sympathetic to Jews.'
"It is an irony of fate that his daughter had intimate contacts
with Jews. Her first love affair—during the winter of 1942/43—was
with Aleksey Jakovlevitz Kapler, a script-writer for the cinema. She
was a school-girl of 17 and she describes their first meeting, her in-
fatuation, the many happy hours which she spent with him.
"Svetlana was followed all the time by the secret police, her
every 'phone conversation was overheard. Stalin treated her with
great cruelty. He presented her with the evidence, slapped her face
twice, destroyed all her letters and photographs relating to Kapler
and exclaimed: 'He does not know how to write Russian. Couldn't
you have found yourself a Russian?' Svetlana adds: 'The fact that
Kapler was a Jew seemed to annoy him most.'

2 Friday. September 8. 1967

—

Stalin's Anti-Semitism Dates
Back Many Years . . . Deplor-
able Emphasis on Hatred.

By Philip iTekoah Named

StOMOVitZ

sraeli UN Envoy

JERUSAT F.M (JTA) — Yosef
Stalin's daughter's first lover paid dearly for his affair; he was
sent into a horrible labor camp for ten years. Svetlana describes her Tekoah, Israel's 42-year-old former
encounter with him after Stalin's death. He lives now in Moscow ambassador to the Soviet Union
where he is an acknowledged expert on cinema matters.
and, previously, Brazil, has been
"Svetlana's first husband was a Jew, too. She married in 1944
named Israel's permanent repre-
an old school friend and a fellow-student, Morozov. She went to inform
her father about the news. Stalin's daughter relates: 'My husband sentative and ambassador to the
United Nations. He will succeed
was a Jew, and this didn't appeal to my father.'
He heard Svetlana's story, kept silent for a long time and then I Ambassador Gideon Rafael, who
exclaimed: 'Go to Hell, do what you like.' But he insisted that her will return here to become direc-
husband should never appear in his house. He categorically refused tor-general of the foreign ministry.
to meet him and never changed his decision. He also refused to meet
Tekoah has been deputy director-
five of his grandchildren but he had a soft spot for two others who
were of Jewish origin: one of them was Svetlana's son. During her general of the foreign ministry.
first marriage Svetlana met her father only twice. Her husband's Born in Shanghai and educated at
Harvard University, he had pre-
father was deported like many other people.
"Svetlana relates how in 1948 a new wave of arrests began; viously served as director of the
there started a campaign against `cosmopolitans.' She adds: 'Lozovsky foreign ministry's armistice affairs
was arrested; Michoels was murdered. They were all accused of be- division. He had also served two
longing to the 'Zionist Center.' This led to the following conversation years as Israel's acting permanent
representative to the United Na-
between Stalin and his daughter:
tions.
"'The Zionists have imposed upon you your first husband,'
He had previously served as di-
he said with contempt. Svetlana tried to answer: 'Daddy. the
rector of the foreign ministry's
youth is indifferent to all these matters—what kind of Zion-
armistice affairs division. Ile had
ism?'
also served two years as Israel's
"'No! You don't understand,' Stalen retorted sharply.
acting
permanent representative
'The whole older generation is poisoned with Zionism and they
to the United Nations.
teach their youth.'
"Svetlana adds: 'It was useless to argue . . . He was full
The cabinet approved the ap-
pointment Sunday night.
of indignation against the whole world. He saw enemies every-
where. It was pathological. It was a persecution complex
Tekoah will assume his new post
from emptiness, from loneliness.'
at the United Nations next winer.
"Then came the 'Doctors' Plot' in 1953. Stalin did not like Meanwhile, the permanent repre-
physicians. His home doctor—Wingradov—was arrested. He did not sentative at the United Nations will
invite any others, in spite of his severe illness. His caretaker told be Michael S. Comay, who had
Svetlana that the matter was discussed at the dinnertable. Stalin held that post prior to Rafael's
expressed his doubts about the honesty of the doctors but as usual appointment. Comay will be chair-
on such occasions everybody kept silent. Svetlana says that she does ' man of Israel's delegation to the
not know whether the story is true because the caretaker tried to next, regular session of the Gen-
whitewash his master.
eral 'Assembly, which is to con-
"Svetlana's description of Stalin's death is worthy of the pen of vene Sept. 19.
a Dostoevsky. The Soviet leaders—Voroshilov, Kaganovitch, Malenkov,
Bulganin, Khrushchev, Mikoyan, wept; so did the servants. It is not
clear whether they wept. over the death of Stalin or whether they
were fearful of their own fate. The only man who seemed to be in
control, who behaved with great arrogance was Beria. He was
executed at e eno or se as.
"Svetlana Stalin's book enriches our knowledge about one of the
In a message addressed to Her-
most tragic chapters in the history of the Soviet Union and Russian
man L. Weisman, president of the
Jewry. But many questions still remain unanswered."
Jewish
National Fund, Gen. Itzhak
No matter what the answer, the facts are on the record. The , Rabin. Israeli chief of staff, hero
Czarist anti-Semitic policies are in i force in Communist Russia and of the Six-Day War, and the next
USSR Jewry's plight is tragic.
Israel ambassador to the United
*
*
*

Gen. Rabin Lands
JNF Defense Role

Do We Really Hate Each Other?

Richard Hatcher, campaigning for the mayoralty of Gary, Ind.,
found it difficult to receive his party's (Democratic) support and he

'inserted a full page advertisement in the New York Times asking for
contributions. He received prompt responses but
contended that after paying expenses he would have
but $14 left.
In his ad he made statements that cause us to
pause. He emphasized the hatreds among peoples
while campaigning the theme of his campaign: "Let's
get ourselves together." And the reader must have
supplemented the query: How can we get ourselves

together if we hate so much?
In his advertisement Hatcher made the statement:
"It seems all too apparent ... that we really do hate
each other." He listed many hates: Whites hate
Negroes and vice versa.... And we wonder why the
Hatcher
Arabs hate the Jews. And vice versa . . . And we wonder why the Pro-
testants hate the Catholics. And vice versa . . ." Et cetera, et cetera.
While Hatcher wrote that he "is battling bigotry and ignorance,"
one must marvel over the naivete that emphasis on hate could possibly
be expected to lead to an elimination of ignorance and bigotry. How can
a public official possibly assume that every one hates? Why should a
man who seeks a major public office assume that "we really do hate
each other?" (The emphases on quoted phrases are Hatcher's in his
advertisement).
In truth, we do not really hate each other as much as Hatcher
would claim. There is less hate among various religious groups, even
among Jews toward Arabs (and, we hope, vice versa), and the emphasis
on hate is unwarranted, because hate begets hate.
We do have a lot to learn!
*
*

States, lauded the achievements of
the JNF in strengthening Israel's
security by opening roads to the
borders and preparing sites for
border settlements.
Gen. Rabin, whose appointment
to succeed Avraham Harman as
Ambassador to Washington on Jan.
1 has just been confirmed, stated:
"The ties between Israel's De-
fence Army and the Jewish Na-
tional Fund are very close, indeed.
"The achievements of the Jewish
National Fund in opening roads to
the borders, and in establishing

settlements and developing areas
along the frontiers, have contri-
buted — and will continue to con-
tribute—very much to strengthen-
ing the nation's security in the
border regions.
"I have no doubt but that the
security aspect of these activities
did not end when the new situa-
tion was created. My greetings

and best wishes to all those who,
by their work and their support,
see to it that these important ac-
tivities are carried on and inten-
sified."

Was National Convention on New Politics a SNCC Defense Move?
It may well be that anti-Israel action of the National Convention of New Politics in Chicago was

a SNCC attempt to justify its position of antagonism to Israel and to Zionism by emphasizing that it is not
anti-Semitism.
What the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee did in its assault on Zionism, which was
coupled with reproduction of false atrocity pictures, is in no sense different from the decision of the black
power majority which appears to have dominated the Chicago convention.
Whichever way the apologists for the latest action may argue, the acts were not merely anti-zionist
or anti-Israel or pro-Arab: they were part of an anti-Semitic campaign' for which all Negroes must not

be held responsible.
It is part of the great national tragedy created by race issues that a long-standing friendship
between Jews and Negroes, between Jews and the most liberal elements in the civil rights movement, is
degree
affected by what happened in the SNCC newspapers and now at a national convention of lib-
to a
erals. And the liberals are so helpless!

s
•
•
Brilliant Analysis of Arab-Israeli Conflict by Minority of One Editor M. S. Arnoni

A number of books already have appeared describing the Six-Day June War. Some even have that
title. Most of them deal with the incidents in Israel — and in the Arab countries — and with the progress
of the war. Few touch upon the issues with historical approaches and by analyzing the basic facts.
By far the best study of the entire situation, on the basis of historical truths and in relation to
the experiences of the past 70 years since the founding the modern political Zionist movement, is
the article "Rights and Wrongs in the Arab-Israel Conflict" by M. S. Arnoni, editor of The Minority
of One, in
i his magazine's current issue. His coverage is so complete, his exposes so factual, that what he
has written is certain to be recorded as the best piece of research yet recorded on the situation.
Arnoni is a courageous man. In this article he emerges as a man who fearlessly speaks the truth.
The September 1967 issue of The Minority of One will rate among the best—if not the very best—
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS historical document on Israel, the Arabs, the role of the Soviet Union and the Zionist movement.

