THE ZIHOVIEFF LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 20317, 28 October 1929, Page 9

THE ZIHOVIEFF LETTER

IK. BESSEDOVSKY’S REVELATIONS CAUSE OF THREE EXECUTIONS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 2G. M. Bossedovsky, extracts from whose articles in the ‘Matin’ have already been cabled, has an article in the ’ ‘ Daily Telegraph,’ in which he deals Avith the famous Zinovieff letter, which, it is generally admitted, brought doAA'n Britain’s first Labour Government. Ho says: “ When M. Zinovieff was summoned before the political bureau and questioned, ho appeared troubled. He declared that lie did not remember dictating the missive, but ho admitted that it Avas so cleverly draAvn up and so closely conformed to the usual lino of the Third International as regards England, that he Avonld havo signed it if he had been asked to do so. When the interrogation ended, he said: ‘ I did not sign it That is all.’ In spite of the denial the Cheka executed three clerks of the Third International, one of whom was a' beautiful girl, avlio had presented the letter to M. Zinovieff for signature. M. ZinoA’ieff made no effort to save her. M. Dzerjinsky knew that the letter was genuine, but would not admit that his chief could have signed it Avithout reading it or being aAvare of its contents. So three humble servants paid for their master’s carelessness.”

M. Bessedovsky affirms that the latest Anglo-Soviet agreement in no way modifies M. Stalin’s plan to undermine the British Colonial Empire in order to achieA’e a Avorlcl revolution. Those who think that Moscow no longer believes in the possibility of such a reA'olution are mistaken. Many Communists have turned sceptics, but M. Stalin presemss bis faith of the early days.