Recorded Message for Spring Mobilization [New York, 1967

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Stefan Andersson, in his review in this issue of Erik Eriksson’s book on Vietnam, cites the message that Bertrand Russell reportedly tape-recorded for the largest antiVietnam War demonstration in the United States. It took place in New York City, 15 April 1967. Russell’s tape was to have been played at the demonstration, but it was rain-shortened and the tape wasn’t presented. The whereabouts of the tape, if it is extant, are unknown. The message is of special interest for its several explicit and oblique references to the upcoming sessions of the International War Crimes Tribunal. It was not known at the time where and when they would take place, but later in April, France having failed Russell, Sweden stood Wrm in its tradition of free speech, assembly and press. The message was Wrst published in the tenth number of the New Yorkz brpf’s Foundation Bulletin (B&R C67.08). It was reprinted in Volume 2 of Bertrand Russell’s America, without the nine sentences from “We will demonstrate this” to “who insist that we identify Johnson and his policy with you the American people.” The present text is printed from the typescript, dated 7 April 1967, in the Bertrand Russell Archives (220.148669) and was compared with that in thez Foundation Bulletin. The typescript’s type is of baggage-stamp size. In extreme old age Russell commonly made his tapes from type of this size. There is no manuscript with it. Corrections are in another hand. Indeed, some of the phrasing is uncharacteristic of Russell’s prose, but his tape-recording the message must be regarded as conferring his approvalz—zjust like his extant tape-recording of “Appeal to the American Conscience” the previous year. (K.B.)