THE SOVIET AND GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 9

THE SOVIET AND GERMANY

* Secret Military Go-operation allegations made by M. TROTSKY (UNITED CRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 6, 11.30 p.m.) MEXICO CITY, March 5. Secret army negotiations between the Soviet and Germany soon after the Great War were revealed by M. Leon Trotsky, when commenting on the latest trend of the Moscow trial. M. Trotsky said Russia, which was vitally concerned to improve its military technique, could expect cooperation only from Germany. At the same time the Reichswehr had been deprived by the Versailles Treaty of opportunities of development and aimed to use the Soviet military industry. The most important concession was granted to the Junker aircraft concern. This involved an exchange of visits by experts on both sides. All were carried out under the closest cover of secrecy. Officially the German Government took no part.

M. Trotsky admits that he undertook this work not as an individual but on behalf of the Soviet Government at a time when M. Stalin was a most dogged partisan of collaboration with Germany. Referring to the charge that he became a German agent in 1921, Trotsky adds; “At this point we are entering the realm of psychopathology. Even granted that I aimed not merely for personal power but for a personal dictatorship, even at the price of the betrayal of a secret agreement with a capitalist Government, I would not in any case have chosen disarmed and humiliated Germany.’’— North American Newspaper Alliance, Copyright. PUBLICATION OF NAMES OF BRITISHERS NO RILING AS TO PRIVILEGE GIVEN (Received March 6, 10.30 p.m.) MOSCOW. March 5. No ruling was given as to whether the names of Britishers given in evidence in a foreign Court are privileged, but it is believed there is little doubt that publication would be upheld as privileged. The responsibility for publication of the names is left to the individual newspapers. “NOTHING TO DO WITH , POLITICS” 1 I LADY PAGET’S COMMENT ON! EVIDENCE | (Received March 6, 11 p.m.) LONDON. March 5. The evening newspapers print all i the names of Britishers mentioned in the Moscow trial. Lady Muriel Paget, in an interview said; “The only conversations I ever had with Rakovsky concerned Red Cross work. No one knows better than the Soviet authorities that I had nothing to do with political questions. My work was devoted to the care of British subjects.” Farbman was a notable authority on Soviet Russia. He died in 1933. It is reported that Krestinsky’s confession last Thursday was the result of a mental breakdown after he was confronted with his wife, the matron of a children’s hospital, who was held under arrest. She persuaded her husband to plead ' guilty. j M. Stalin sat in a guarded secret box to watch the effect of the confrontation.