SELF-DENUNCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 22560, 30 January 1937, Page 15

SELF-DENUNCIATION

BOLSHEVIST PRISONERS' OUTBURSTS ALL ANXIOUS TO ADMIT GUILT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MOSCOW, January 29. (Received January 30, at 11 a.m.) For the first time since the trial opened the court room was jammed to hear the accused) make their last speeches, which seemed like funeral orations. The speed with which the closing stages of the trial were rushed) through indicates an early verdict. Piatakov declared: “The prosecution correctly stated all the facts but I am no longer a Trotskyist. I wish Trotsky were here to share our fate.” Radek, whose earlier assurance deserted) him, insisted that he was a political criminal and vehemently protested against being tried with “ ordinary bandits and wreckers.”Sokolnikov pleaded that ho was the first fully to. confess, leading to the unearthing of the conspiracy. He added in a sobbing voice: “ After this exposure I trust that none will ever work under Trotsky’s banner. Trotskyism is already crushed. I hope the court will consider the extenuating circumstances, though I deserve nothing but the death penalty.’’ KERENSKY'S EXPLANATION STALIN ELIMINATING DANGEROUS COMPETITORS PARIS, January 29. (Received January 30, at 9 a.m.) M. Kerensky, commenting on the Moscow trial, states that such a trial is usually arranged on the eve of some economic difficulty. He says Stalin is detested by the old Bolshevists and is simply getting rid of dangerous competitors. Those who confess are tried. Others, who are far more numerous, just disappear. ANOTHER TRIAL EXPECTED LEADING BOLSHEVISTS TO BE CHARGED LONDON, January 29. The ■* Daily Mail’s * Warsaw correspondent says reports from Moscow indicate that a third Soviet trial is foreshadowed in April, with Bukharin, the former editor of Izvestia,’ General Putna, a former military attache in London, Rakovsky, a former Ambassador in London and Paris, and Rykov, a former Premier, as the accused. The arrest of Marshal Tukachevsky, the “brains” of the Soviet army, is also expected'. RADEK’S CONFESSION TORTURED FOR TEN WEEKS MOSCOW, January 29. (Received January 30, at 1 p.m.) Radek emphasised that he stood by the beliefs which led him to the dock. He had joined Trotsky because it was impossible to build up Socialism in one country alone. He realised too late that Trotsky would involve a foreign Power. He believed it impossible to seize the Government of Russia without the aid of Herr Hitler. Radek then implicated Bukharin, Radek added: “ I was tortured by the Department of the Interior’s investigators for 10 weeks before I confessed. I did not confess until the confessions of all the others were shown to me.” Radek concluded with the warning that Trotskyites in Russia, France, and Spain who disagreed with the party might the next moment be spies.