New-York tribune., 1909-02-25
AZEF MERELY Il SPY.
Premier StOlypin Defends the Police
Before the DOumd.

St Petersburg Feb Z5-The answer CT the gov
ernment to the Interpolation Of the Constitutional
Democrats the recent revelations in connection
with Azef. who had been known as the head of the
Fighting Russian Socialists and later was said 20
be a government spy, was made by premier
Stoypin before the Douma at early hour TINS
morning. The Premier occupied more than an nour
with his statement. which was based on the theory
that Azef. during his entire connection with the
revolutionsts acted only In the capacity or inforer
and furthered the execution Of important ter
roris: plots played the part Of provocative
agent.
Premier Stolypin confined his attention TO the
subject introduced by the Constitutional Demo
Gratis. the Douma first rejecting the Socialist ques-
ton after a long debate. He said that Azef had
been police service since 1882, and that he es-
tablished with the main terrorist group In
1902 several years he held subordinate place
IN the party. and was able TO render only minor
services to the government, but in 1903 ne became
a member of the Social RevolutioDists central COM
mittee. and since then had kept the government so
well informed that crime of importance had been
committed by the main terrorist organization
The assassinations of Major General der
Launitz and General Count Ignatieff. and the at
tempt TO kill General Maximovitch, the explosion
at the Stolypin villa and other acts of terrorism
since 1907. the Premier said. were the work OF a
ero,,n wifi, which Azef was not connected. Azef
was absent from Russia when Grand Duke Sergius
was assassinated. and therefore was not responsl-
bic for the failure to prevent this crime
The Premier added that the police had complete
records of the activity of Azef He had thoroughly
examined these, as we'll the statement OF Lopu-
kline formerly director of police in the Department
of the Ministry of the Interior. who was arrested
a short time ago on a charge of high treason In
connection with the Azef disclosures. and he was
firmly convinced that the charges against the po-
lice contained in the Interpolation unjusfed
The Premier reviewed the records of Azefs ac-
cusers and said that these men were not worthy
of credence
a stir was caused by the speech of NJ Dulat a
Laborite, who has just returned from Farls with
documents including the originals Of two letters,
dealing with Azefs trial there by the revolutionary
tribunal Azef in these letters, complains of his
comrades suspicious particularly as he had borne.
he said the chief burden. and had organized all the
terroristic acts in years. including the as
sassnations of Oboensky, Sersius and Won Plehve.
The Socialist Pokroffsky, proposing the Socialist
Interpolation. gave the accounts OF Azets actiV-
ity which have already been made public, but
added number OF new features, based on docu-
mentary evidence, which, however, was not con-
elusive The most interesting papers presented
were in the form Of kilograms tending to substan-
tiate the report of the police of Moscow and ST
Petersburg that they had knowledge beforehand
of the plot against Grand Duke Sergius. but DID
not attempt TO, prevent II from being carried out
,InI the last stage and details Of plots organized
by Azef against his employers, Lopukine ano
Rachkoffsy, the latter the director OF the Foreign
Secret Service. NJ Pokrohsky concluded by warn
ing Premier Stolypin that he might now expect as
sassination.
In conclusion Premier Stolypin said that the gov
ernrnent would relentlessly prosecute any Of its
agents who were guilty of provoking crimes He
hoped that Russia, with the aid Of the Douma'
would issue from the lamentable situation which
stil rendered exceptional police measures a nee
essary evil.