TROTSKYISTS IN TEARS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 13, 30 January 1937, Page 5

TROTSKYISTS IN TEARS

-Preas Aash.-

Sobbed Conlessioiis Made to Court verdict awaited

(By Telegtaph-

— CopyriErht.)

(Received January 30, 10.35 a.m.) MOSCOW, Jan. 29. For the fifSt time since the trial opChed the courttoom was jammed to hear the accused make their last speches, which sCemed like funeral orations. The speed with which the closing stages of the triai Were tushed through ihdicate an early verdict. Piatakov declared: ''The prbSeCution has correctiy stated all the facts but 1 am nb lohger a Tfotskyist. I wish Ttotsky Wefe hefe to share out fate.#> Radek, whose earlier assutance had desetted hihi, insisted that he was a political crimin&l hhd vehemehtly pro* testBd" at being tried With ofdihhfy bandits ahd wreckerS. Sokblnikbv plehded that he Whs the first fhily to cofifess, leading td the uheafthing of the cohspiraey. He added ih a Sobbing voide: "After this exposiire I trust that none Will ever work undet Trotsky's banner. Tfotskyism is already crushed. I hope that the Court Will cbnsider the extenuating eircumstancee though I desetve nothing but the death penaity," Radek emphasised tha,t he stood by the beliCfa Which had led him to the dock. He joindd Trotsky because it was impossible to build up Sbeialism in one

coUntfy alohe ahd realisCd tbo late that Ttotsky wbhld ihvolVe a foreigh Power, He believed it was impossible to seizb • the Govethmeht - of RfisSia without the aid of Herr Hitlef. Radek then implicated Bukhatih, who, he said, did not know everythihg. He ihdicated that ovet a huhdi-ed weta ihvolved ih the direction of the COhspiracy. Radek said: tlI Was tortUred "by Bepartmeht 6f IiiteriOr Ihvestlghtbfs fbr ten weeks befdre i cohfessed aiid did hot confess untll thd cohfesSions of all the btheiS Wdfd shbWh me.-' Radek eohciuded With a waThihg tp Trotskyites in Ru&sia, FrancC and Spaih, adding that ahyone Who diSagteed with the party might be aCchsed naxt hioment as a spy.