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THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 1940.
G.P.U. THEORY IN TROTSKY KILLING
LEON TROTSKY, former War Commissar of Soviet Russia, later exiled to the Mexico City suburb of Coyoacan, was killed by the blow of an Alpine pick at his home on August 20.
..
The murder was at once attributed by his secre- taries and friends to Trotsky's old enemy Joseph Stalin, and shortly afterwards the Mexican police and nearly the whole press apparently subscribed to the view that the murderer was an agent of the G.P.U.
tsky's enchies against him: at- tempted murder of Stalin; collu- boration with the Red-balting Dieb Committoo, even participa- tiòn in the revolt threatened by General Almazan, the defeated candidate for the Mexican Pre- sidency. Trotsky's fécretaries and
attorney day that the expressions
are the kind of thing the G.P.U... forces its agents to write,” but do not venture so far as to stato
that the G.P.U. did, in fact, dic-
tate them to "Mornard."
'What these sections do, in fact,"
look like is an attempt by some-
one to write as the G.P.U., if G.P.U there be, might be sup- posed to make its agents write. But if the intention were to make But, enigmatic though the tervene in the politics of the only out that "Mornard" is a dis- murder and the murderer re- country willing to grant him illusioned, Trotskyist, provided he main, no evidence for this theory asylum that he bitterly attacked were not so in reality, why not has yet been produced that would lenders and papers of the Mexican leave the apparently genuine and stand up to the simplest cross- Labour movement as "agents of personal sections intact? But examination in a court of law. the GPU." Certainly these had, "Mornard" may have written the There has been no evidence that, attacked "Trotskyism" and rals-whole as it stands. the G.U.P. even works outside ed on some occasions the slogan "Mornard" and the murder Sovlet Russia, where its name "Muera Trotsky!" But “muera"
are involved In all sorts of has long been changed to that literally "may he 'die"-ls not
mystery. They read like the of the N.K.V.D. It is probable, taken "literally in Mexico; it
opening chapters
of any de- however, that Soviet Russia, no means no more than "down with." tective story. less than. England or the United Before the war many decent But an immediate drive has States, does maintain observers in English people vaguely hoped that been opened against the Com- Mexico, with which it has had Hitler would die, but it is ex munist party, which, Trotsky no diplomatic relations for 13 tremely doubtful whether they himself explained at length and years. But, from observation to would personally have hit him on in public, rarely is informed of assassination is a very long step the head with an axe. There is the existence of "resident mem- Indeed.
nothing but "Mornard's" alleged bers. of the G.P.U." The G.P.U. The murderer's own explana- confession to show that he was theory has been adopted in toto: tion is that he killed Trotsky in contact with the clements most "it is common knowledge," just because he was disillusioned in feared by Trotsky.
as it was "common knowledge," him, Having expected to find This confession is á peculiar that the Spanish Republicans the leader of the world revolu- business. It is typewritten in were "Bolshevist Reds," Only one tion, he met a disgruntled old correct French and dated
in New York paper suggested that man more interested in factional pencil. The date is written with it might be well to suspend squabbles In his own party than the day of the month first, not, judgment until proof was avail- in revolutionary action. Accord- as in the Mexican style, with the able. ing to an alleged confession found month first. The figures look in his pocket after the crime, the like French calligraphy, but no assassin's Anal disillusionment expert opinion on the handwrit- arose when Trotsky suggested ing has yet been released by Under the Mexican system that he go to Soviet Russia and the police, who had the docu- nearly all the investigatory work take part in a plot against Stalin, ment in their possession for three is done by the police and the ex- But some reserve must be made days and at first dented its ex- arining magistrate. Defence law- about this alleged confession. istence. "Mornara" later briefly yers may attend the examining acknowledged ity authenticity, but magistrate's sessions, which have his 'admissions and retractions are already beguri.. Two qualified very confusing.
Many Obscurities
The Typewriter
Method Of Trial
alienists have been requested to submit a report on "Mornard's" sanity within 30 days. The vér- · dict in the eventual trial will Two questionable points at probably be given by a committee once arise: on what' machine of experts, since trial by jjury. was it written ?;' is the style has not been notably successful "Mornard's"} The point about in Mexico because the cultural the machine is important, and level of persons selected at hazard no independent evidence has has not been found consistent yet been given out. "Mornard" with the high standards of Mexi- has told a peculiar story. can jurisprudence. Since there
After wooks of close OX- amination virtually nothing IS known yet about the murdorer. No fewer than seven nationa- tles have been claimed. by him or attributed to him. At the present moment he gives his name as "Mornard," Aut he has given various other names, and no one knows what 'it really is. "Mornard" was badly beaten In his belt at the time of the is no death penalty in the Federal after the murder. He has been murder was found a revolver, district the maximum sentence. or has pretended to be in a with which he claimed he was for homicide is 30 years, but a lamentable condition all the time going to commit suicide. This long sentence is very often re- he has been in the hands of po- revolver, he says, he
obtained duced. It is possible, that in
ice surgeons. During public in- from a shady character, who has "Mornard's" case the verdict and terrogations he elutles questions since vanished, in a well-known sentence will be based upon mer- with moans and tears. This enig- bar close to police headquarters. cy and convenience and that the matic person, long-jawed, sunken- He paid a sum of money, about prosecution will not be too eyed, with remarkably good £8 (pre-war), and gave his port stringent in cross-examination. hands, shows signs of consider- able typewriter. This is curlous As in most political trials in most able if erratic intelligence. He on two points:, he was living in countries, the elucidation of mo- speaks English and French a fairly expensive hotel, so why tive will certainly not satisfy. fluently, knows Spanish in the could he not pay the whole in everyone, Mexican pronunciation, and cash? The bar, too, has no pri-1 Whatever the Court decides, it some Italian. His articles were vate rooms. The exchange could is certain that a great many, pos apparently at least interesting have been watched by the bar sibly a majority, of the persons enough for Trotsky to give them; man."
interested have already taken the serious attention, for he was More mysterious is the sub- attitude "If there isn't' a G.P.U. able to be alone with his victim sequent story. Wishing to write it is necessary to invent one." on the excuse that he desired the confession, he asked the pistol his criticism about a study of seller to meet him, with the type- some French statistics, But it writer, in the city's main park. has not yet been revealed where. Here he sat down and typed R and under what name he publish out without being seen by 1 ed his articles:
soul, a most remarkable ̈ ́"thing. "Mornard's" story is that he He has not explained what hap- was a Trotskyist sympathiser in pened to the machine afterwards. Paris. A member of the Fourth The new owner, has not come International approached him, forward with any story. asked him whether
he would
like to go to. Mexico; because such men were very welcome "for special purposes." He ac
Two Styles
The contents of the confession
M. P. AND DORIS
DUKE DENIAL
Widespread rumours that Doris Duke Cromwell plans a divorce in order to wed Captain Cunning- |ham-Reid, Conservative M.P, for Marylebone, were declared to be untrue by the New York "Jour-
cepted gladly, and he received a are most peculiar. It might have nal-American.” forged passport and a sum of been written by two different The paper added: "It would be money and instructions to ap- persons in collaboration, The futile to deny Doris's romantic proach Trotsky "casually." He sections explaining "Mornard's interest, for they are almost con- did not visit Trotsky for several personal motives are straight-stantly together." months, but claimed to be engag-forwardly stated in the simplest 'Captain Cunningham-Reid is re- ed in somewhat mysterious com- prose, But what may be ported to be in the neighbourhood:
mercial activities that took him called the political sections are of New York preparing for his all over the North of Mexico. expressed in the most tortuous return to England.
Split Over Finland
NO ROAD ROUTES FOR THE ENEMY
journalese, full of cliches that frequently appeared in the head- lines of just those papers which With the Soviet entry into Po-Trotsky accused of being "agents land and Finland a deep split of the GPU." One example: developed within the Trotskyist Mornard" guys that Trotsky party. Trotsky himself approved suggested he go to Soviet, Rus- the steps taken by his old enemy sla disguised as a member of a Great care to prevent road on strategle grounds. Much bit- "certain Parliamenty commit-routes from falling into the hands terness arose, Trotsky himself, so tee," obviously referring to the of unauthorised persons is taken It was said, denouncing the minor- American Congressional Dies by the Automobile Association. ity opposing him as "scum." From Committee. But the letter was Although about 2,000 of these January, the time of the acutest to be road after "Mornard's" routes are still being issued cuch tension, "Trotsky bogan to show suicide. Why this sudden reluc-weels, they are for motorists who fears of an attempt upon his life, tance of a virtually deda man can bu vouchoil for by A A. which ho naturally attributed to to mention names?«/ the GPU. The increasing per-
The political sections retpll an We feel it our duty to help the authorities to prevent information sécution of the GPU. became a almost complete sories of all the from getting Into the wrong mania with him and he go for accusations, some of them a trifle hando," on official of the Aμ forgot his promise not to in fantastic, perhaps, made by Tro-said.
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