RUSSIAN REVELATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 805, 28 October 1929, Page 9

RUSSIAN REVELATIONS

ZINOVIEFF LETTER AND SECRET CODE BESSEDOWSKY WRITES ON (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Sun. The Russian writer, M. Bessedowsky, tells the Press the manner in which the Soviet obtained the recentlystolen Italian secret code. He says an Italian attache at Berlin offered the code for £I,OOO to the Soviet Embassy at Paris. The Soviet official, under the pretence of a desire to verify its authenticity, borrowed the book and photographed every page while the Italian waited in the next room. He then told the Italian that the Soviet had decided not to purchase the code.

M. Bessedowsky has an article in the “Daily Telegraph,” in which he deals with the famous Zinovies letter, which, it is generally admitted, brought down the first British Labour Government. In this he says that when M. Zinovielf was summoned before the Political Bureau and questioned he appeared troubled. He declared that he did not remember dictating the missive, but he admitted that it was so cleverly drawn up, and so closely conformed to the usual line of the Third (Communist) International regarding England, that he would have signed it if he had been asked to do so. When the interrogation ended he said: “I did not sign it. That is all.” In spite of his denial the Ogpu (secret police) executed three clerks of the Third International, one of whom was the girl who had presented the letter to Zinovieff. for signature. M. Zinovieff made no effort to save her. M. Dzerjinsky knew the letter was genuine, but he would not admit that his chief could have signed it without reading it or being aware of its contents. So the three humble servants paid for their master’s carelessness. M. Bessedowsky affirms that the latest agreement between Britain and the Soviet in no way modifies M. Stalin’s plan to undermine the British Dominions and colonies, in order to achieve a world revolution. Those who think that Moscow no longer believes in the possibility of such a revolution are mistaken. Many Communists have turned sceptics, but M. Stalin preserves his faith of early days.