TROTSKY TALK CHECKED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19246, 11 February 1937, Page 16

TROTSKY TALK CHECKED

MESSAGE TO NEW YORK FAILURE OF 'PHONE WIRE (Klec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) NWW 'YORK. Feb. 10. A scheduled speech by the Russian exile, M. Leon Trotsky, by telephone to an audience of 6500 people here was prevented by the cutting of the wire somewhere between here and south of Monterey, Mexico. M. Trotsky denounced the action as sabotage on'the part of Stalinite Communists in Mexico.

The audience remained in the audi torium, which was equipped with loud speakers, hoping the wire would be re paired.

Copies of the speech were distributed in advance to the meeting.

Mi Trotsky asserted he was ready to surrender to the Soviet if an impartial court found him guilty on charges ol terrorism, conspiracy and treason upon which he. was tried' recently in his absence at Moscow.

It is learned that several prominent American lawyers, judges and educators, have been consulted concerning a proposal to hold such a trial here if Washington would consent to M. Trotsky entering the United Slates in order to testify. A Mexico City message says there was great excitement there when followers were unable to locate M. Trotsky at his home at Viera. Fears were expressed that he had been kidnapped by Stahnites.

An hour later, however, M. Trotsky returned. He explained that, when he found the telephone dead, he rushed from the house and motored to various telephone booths, attempting vainly to be connected with New York.

Employees of the Mexican Telephone Company, who are aligned with the National Labour Federation, which was opposed to M. Trotsky's entry to .Mexico, gave the excuse that a fuse had blown out.

While M. Trotsky was missing, a cordon of policemen surrounded his home. The servants denied knowledge of his whereabouts.

Ironically it. was learned that another telephone company had a line prepared, hut, was unable to find M. Trotsky.