THE TIME FOR DECISION. [Hardcover]

Sumner: Welles (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Pan (1999)
• ASIN: B000W2Q596
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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3.0 out of 5 stars A seducer and deliberate deceiver, not a dupe., January 1, 2010

By 

Laurence Daley (Corvallis, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: TIME FOR DECISION (Hardcover)

A seducer and deliberate deceiver, not a dupe.

Welles, (Benjamin) Sumner 1944 Time for Decision. Harper & Brothers. New York and London. ASIN B001K40OZ6.

What brought this book to my attention was Cuban Dictator Fulgencio Batista's claim that he was fully supported by Welles during the 1930s and 1940s. These claims of that dictator seem quite odd and worth check out; and yet they were true (see below).

Some interpretations of Senior State Department Official Sumner Wells role in Cuba in 1933 view him as duped and seduced by gay communist agent Guillermo Arturo Montenegro, known in that Department's files and subsequent Senate investigations as William Arthur Wieland. However, Welles own words in this volume clearly show he was an active fellow traveler, and supporter of Soviet objectives. Examples follow.

For example: page 31 describes Welles views of Commissar Maxim Litvinov, once representative of the Soviet Union at the League of Nations: "... Maxim Litvinov must be recognized as the only outstanding European statesman who was consistently right during the period between the (World Wars L.D.). ... Litvinov is a blunt man. He is often brutal. He has never seemed to me to be devious. ..."

Compare this with comments on page 57-58 which present the less than even handed opinions of Welles when comparing the Spanish dictatorship Franco with the crimes of the left wing republic which preceded it: "...The constitutional Republican government of Spain had been officially recognized by this government. While it was guilty of various excesses (note understated categorization of a considerable number of horrors committed L.D.), it was undoubtedly a popular government. Franco's revolt against this legitimate government (note reiteration of previously stated matter L.D.) gained headway. His rebellion, connived by agents of Mussolini, obtained financial support from the Italian government. ..." On page 59 some reality of that terrible circumstance, although minimized, creeps in: "...It could not be denied that horrifying atrocities were committed upon priests and nuns by groups who alleged they were operating under orders of republican officials. ... " this presentation continues in understated description of Soviet and Communist support for the Spanish Republic.

Then on page 191 the subject turns to the Cuba of 1933, where, but not mentioned in this book he initiated his affair with William Wieland (a Stalinist agent directed by "Fabio" Grobart). On page 193 he lambasts cruel dictator Machado for cruelties and crimes that were terrible but far less frequent than those committed by the Spanish Republic. By page 197 he praises Batista (omitting mention of Batista's own bloody crimes) but then that dictator, who in those days, was favored by the radical communist left such as Pablo Neruda. "This second mutiny (September 4th, 1933 AFTER Machado fell L.D.), which was lead and to a great extent, and to a very considerable extent planned by that extraordinarily brilliant and able figure, Fulgencio Batista ... "

By page 308 the author has returned to discussion and apologia of the Soviet regime: " ... The Soviet government, primarily as a weapon for defense has, has sought at times to use the Soviet International to further a world revolution. ..."

Apologia for the Soviet attack on Poland is presented on page 311, but then no further mention is made of the Stalin's participation in the invasion of that much suffered country. Only Hitler's crimes are mentioned although certainly because of Welles high position in and his ready access to all intelligence of the US Government; thus, he of all people could not claim ignorance of Soviet actions in Eastern Europe. Praise of Stalin, suggesting that this monster was not being involved in World revolution is given for example on page 313 and other places in the book and Welles attacks on Trotsky clearly, very clearly suggest, that the author was very close, or even an formal militant of the orthodox Soviet cause.

Thus by this reading my view of Welles has changed, from that of dupe seduced by Wieland, to that of an "agent of influence" acting against his own country's interests and fully under the influence of the Soviet apparatus.