New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-01
.AzEFF'S CONFESSION
ST|RS RUSSIANS HERE
Can Reveal Tremendous Secrets
of Workings of Secret Police,
Says RevoIutionist.
GOVERNMENT INDICTED
Friends Of BourtIeff, to Whom
Revelations Were Made, Will
Try to Dissuade Him from
Returning to Court Trial.

Great excitement was caused in the
Russian quarter yesterday by the
news, printed exclusively in The Trio-
une, that Eugene Philipovich Azeff,
the Russian terrorist and spy. had
made a full confession in Frankfort
Of his double intriguing. Revolu-
tionary leaders in this city, who are
in constant communication with Viadi-
mir Lumwit2 Bourtzeff. the leader in
Paris u whom Azeff confessed, de-
clared that the greatest importance
was to be attached TO his confession.
Ever since 1868, IL was said there
has been no doubt in the minds OF
those In touch with the situation In
Russia living in this city that Azef
was an arch traitor 10 their cause, and
they believe his own admissions will
have Ear reaching results. Especial
significance was attached TO the fact
that coupled with his confession that
ne was the organizer Of the plot which
resulted in the assassination Of the
Grand Duke Sergius was the demand
that ne be brought before a special
revolutionary tribunal FOR a hearing.
promising 20 reveal all he knew about
Russian political police secrets.
TOO great importance cannot be at
tached to Azeff's confession" said DR..
Paul S. Kaplan. of No. go East
Broadway. secretary Of the American
committee of the Russian Social Revo-
lutionary party. HE can reveal ire
mendous secrets of how the Russian
governments secret police were, and
still are, working. He can also clear
up n good many mysteries Of unsuc-
cessful revolutionary acts in the party
itself
More than this, and Of perhaps
wider Impotence" DR.. Kaplan went
on, "Azeff can supply material which
would condemn the Russian govern
ment in the public opinion of Europe,
showing how they conduct affairs The
whole system OF the secret police is 10
provoke acts Of violence. then suppress
them In order 70 get credit for eff
cheney. thus giving the police system
an apparent justification for existing.
Not only has Azeff promised to reveal
these things, as shown in letters TO me
from Bourtzeff. but we believe he will
make good, and do so before the tri-
bunal"
Bourtzef himself. said DR.. Kaplan,
will be here in October to face libel
suit brought against him by Evalenko,
whom he caused to be brought before
Il revolutionary tribunal here and de-
nounced as q Russian spy. After this
suit it is Bourtzeff's intention to go
boldly back 10 Russia, facing certain
arrest and trial there
I'VE shall do everything we can to
dissuade him from this said Or. kap-
Ian TT Is his idea that the Russian
government will be obliged 10 grant a
man so prominent as he is public
trial. in which revelations OF their
police methods will be brought out:
But we know that the government will
not let this take place. Bourtzeff Will
be arrested on some technical charge.
and everything Will be conducted in
secret. We shall not let Bourtzen
sacrifice himself In this way If we can
help it
NJ. Katz, another member OF the
American committee and a me,nber Of
the "Warheit' staff. expressed the
opinion also that Azeff's confession
was Of immense importance in the sue
cessful development Of the ernancipa-
ton of Russia
"Azeff can relate secrets Of the Rus
sian government OF great moment" he
| said. We here who are interested In
the movement are awaiting with great
est interest further details of his state
ment. We have only partial accounts
f.