I read that in 1929 – following the Wall Street Stock Exchange Crash – Western capitalism was in trauma. Indeed, the US and Europe descended into economic “Depression” with widespread starvation and homeliness rife. At that time no one was sure if Western capitalism would recover – or if the working-class would seize power through a popular movement. Until that time, the US had continued on its insular and arrogant path – believing itself immune to the boom and bust reality implicit within capitalist ideology. Although always portraying the Soviet Union as the aggressor – it was the US that militarily invaded Revolutionary Russia between 1918-1921 (together with the UK and numerous other countries) contributing to the 10.5 million casualties the Russians (and others) suffered. With fascism already in Italy (from 1922) and Hitler coming to power in 1933, the left-leaning President Roosevelt decided to do the unthinkable – and diplomatically “recognise” the USSR. During the collapse of the Western economy – the USSR suffered no adverse effects – at all as its monetary system existed outside that of international commerce. Furthermore, the US had forced the rest of the world to limit its trade with the USSR – which had learned to be both robust and independent. I think the average American was so desperate that this sudden change of US direction attracted incredibly little criticism at the time. Indeed, as the Marx Brothers were at the absolute top of their talents – the Roosevelt Administration thought it plausible that as the USSR follow the philosophy of onne “Karl Marx” – it might be a good idea to send a famous entertainer with the same last name – “Harpo Marx” to act as a “Friendship Ambassador” in Moscow. Perhaps to break the ice, so to speak. The above clip is extracted from the 2003 documentary entitled “Inside the Marx Brothers” – which features “Arthur Marx” – the son of Groucho. In this biopic it is mentioned that Groucho gave a press interview in 1933 stating that his brother Harpo was in Russia – and a rare clip of Harpo playing the harp in Moscow is included. Although I have read about this in Western sources, and I assume it to be true, I have never found any evidence (as yet) in the Soviet Archives. I am, however, assured that these events did take place. The camera-angle for the Harpo clip is incredibly limited – as if the camera-operator was not permitted to film anyone else – or the original clip has been edited. I suppose at the time the Soviets were suspicious of the US intentions. After-all, Roosevelt was forced to pass a disclosure law in 1940 which saw the Communist Party of the US “withdraw” from the “Third Communist International” – a huge blow to World Communism at the time and a major contributing factor to the Third International being dissolved in 1943 (as half the world was trying to destroy the USSR at the time). When faced with the continuous barrier of bourgeois lies and deception – we must advance our own proletariat research inch by inch. I find it interesting that the Marx family was good friends with Charlie Chaplain – which might give you a hint of their political leanings (the US government expelled Charlie Chaplain and stole $20 million of his own money in 1952 – because he was far-left – and a personal friend of Ho Chi Minh).
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 