Are They Drugged ?

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 5

Are They Drugged ?

Queer Attitude of Moscow Prisoners TRCT.CTIY’S CRUSHING REPLY TO STALIN United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Tuesday, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 26. The attitude taken up by the Moscow prisoners towards the charges against them is causing considerable speculation. The Morning Post says one suggestion is that they are under the influx encc of some drug affecting their will power. Tho Times says the most perplexing feature of tho whole affair is the behaviour of the prisoners. At previous Soviet trials they have been openly defiant like the Metro-Vickers engineers in 3933 or broken and cowed like the Zinovieff-Kamaneff group in August last but Radck and his companions give blithe assurances of their guilt. A London psychiatrist interviewed by the Morning Post revealed that a drug existed -which would fully account for the prisoners’ behaviour. It was not in tho public interest to identify it but the effect was to render tho subject “incapable of resistance." Moreover, it was not inconsistent with its effects that the subject should remain cheerful. “I scornfully reject the charges being made against me at the so-called Moscow trial," declares Trotsky, cabling to the Manchester Guardian from Mexico.

“There is not a single word of truth in it.

“It is alleged that in 1935 I wrote to Radek with whom I had had no relations since 1925, urging tho necessity of restoring the capitalist system in the Soviet Union. That’s exactly what is happening now. Stalin therefore is attributing to me through Radek the very policy I publicly accuse him of putting into practice. “It is also alleged that I insisted that German and Japanese capita; should bo admitted to Russia, whereas the very moment Hitler was seizing power I urged the Red army mobilisation on the Soviet's western frontier in order to support and encourage the Gorman proletariat. What could I hope to gain from a German-Japanese alliance? In what strange way coult Hitler and the Mikado give me power? “Stalin merely wishes to compromise me before public opinion in democratic countries and thus deprive me of finding an asylum anywhere. I do not know if Stalin dreams of a crown, but I know he is bringing about the downfall of Soviet Russia. '' RADEK'S MOTHER APPEALS TO STALIN. Received Tuesday, 9.50 p.m. WARSAW, Jan. 25. Radek's mother, aged 72, telegraphed Stalin and Stalin's mother appealing to them to use influence to save hex son's life, adding: “If my son is condemned I will die of sorrow."