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Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 9, 26 January 1937, Page 7

FREE CONFESSIONS

-Press Absxl

Russian Accused Deny Threats or Promises A MDIVANI ARRESTED

(By Telegraplx-

.— Copyright.)

(Reeeived 16, 10.15 a.m.) MOSCOW, Jan. 25. The first witness at the third day of the treason trial was Loginoif, head of the coke industry. In evidence he saxd he made contact with German agents and organised terrorist centres in the Ukraine with the object of assassinat ing the Dictator, Jo{,ef.- Stalin and the War Minister, General Voroshilov. Another prisoner, Bogusavsky, denied that he had coixfessed because pressure of threats and promxses had influenced him. He explained that he had confessed of his own free will when he realised the gravity of the offence. It is understood that Prince Buduin Mdivani has been arrested for pai'ticipating in the plot. He is allegedly the head of ihe Georgian terrorist group. Lipshutz, formerly assistant Commisar oi* Railroads, adxuitted receipt of instructions from Serebriakov to cause* train wrecks and janx the more important branches in the event of war, Vladimir Romm described how he had acted as go-between carrying letters for Trotsky and Radek. " He met Trotsky in Paris where Trotsky confirmed written instructions that . the group must actively sabotage the Societ, "I.decidcd to ceaee active work when Kirov was assassinated, " concluded witness. "Take Romm away," said the Judgo after Radek had confirmed Romm's evidence. Sokolnikov, former Ambassador to Britain, admitted complicity in plotting to betray the Soviet to Germany and Japan, despite having enjoyed under the Soviet a distinguished official career. He was actuated by a defeatist belief that German Fascism treatened to strangle the Soviet and thought it preferable to retreat from Socialism and make a deal with Fascists than be utterly destroyed and relying on the other capitalist Powers and discontented elements, such as the impoverigjxed kulaks, to prevent Germany going too far after she waa entrenehed in the Ukraine. "The Times" Riga correspondent states that other prisoners, replying to M. Vishinsky, uniformly corroborated Piatakov and not replying reluctantly oi simply answering "'yes" but eagerly and blitlxely with endorsements like " certainly, ' ' "undoubtedly" and helping the prosecutor with amplifieations in order to emphasise the enormity of their crimes.