Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-19
BY PRISCILLA RING.

,CopyrIsht, 1891. by the Associated Press
MODA, Turkey. July 18.-For the
first time in almost two years Leon
Trotsky has unlocked the iron gates OF
his retreat to admit an interviewer.
He received an Associated Press cor
respondent in his small wooden villa
at Moda, an Asiatic suburb Of Istanbul
and q favorite Summer resort of the
Anglo American colony.
The house which the exile rented
here after fire destroyed his residence
on Prinkipo Island is modest, un-
painted eight-room structure standing
in q neglected garden. High walls and
locked barbed-wire gates surround 1t on
three sides and the front gives directly
over the wide expanSe OF the shining
Marmora Sea.
Watches Soviet Ships Pass.
From his window Trotsky can watch
day after day ships churning out from
the BoSphorus carrying millions OF tons
of Soviet exports to the four corners OF
the capitalistic world.
Within, Trotsky's writing room anc
its ante room on the second floor OF
the two-story house are lined with
crowded bookshelves, the volumes be-
ing freshly collected from Europe and
America since the fire which destroyed
his huge library a few months ago.
At long table covered with manu-
scripts sits Trotsky He would scarcely
be recognized as the man who slipped
out of the Soviet embassys semi-prison
into the public view Of Pera hotel
three years ago.
Exile Ruddier Now.
He is ruddier and more elastic, and
k,tr 20 &c :
ternesS. The heavineSs and SallownesS
are gone.
The sporting costume he wears, white
shirt open at the throat, white trousers
and blue jacket, adds to the atmosphere
of vitality now about him.
His thin, pointed face is Sunburned
from hours spent fishing on the Mar
mora Sea-his one recreation. His
bristling hair and pointed beard are al
most white Despite recurrent attacks
of malaria. he is man of such power
that the air about him tingles.
Trotsky shot out cordial greetings in
French, with some English how are
you's" and AL rights" thrown in. He
reads English easily. but prefers not to
talk it,
Attacks Questions.
First STIMULATING that his declarations
were to be published word for word or
not at all. he attacked the questions
which at his request had been sent in
in advance.
You have asked me a number of very
complicated questions concerning the
interior development of the Soviet
Union" he said. ITO answer these
questions seriously and conscientiously
it would be necessary to write several
articles.
Within the space of an interview it
is impossible to give an analysis of the
complicated processes which form the
nomic system of the Soviet Union. a
system which constitutes a bridge be-
tween capitalism and socialism.
You know that ordinarily I avoid in
terviews. especially because they too
easily give rise to misunderstanding
even II they are absolutely Loyalty trans
mitted. In fact this abstention from
interviews, as shown by my recent ex-
perience. does not insure one against
most untrue MISUNDERSTANDING and
mutilations.
Stand Is Unvacillating.
During the past weeks a dispatch
passed through the world press which
dIIl lDuUSd W uic SUIIlc OkJlIllOIlS OTeCJlN
opposed to those which have exposed
and defended.
The enemies Of the Soviet regime. at
least the most obdurate and least per-
SpicaciouS, expected after nv expulsion
from the Soviet Union hostile actions
on my part against the regime hated by
them. They were mistaken. and there
only remains for them to take refuge in
falsifications, relying on credulity or bad
faith.
Il use the opportunity of the ques-
tons asked by you to declare again my
relations to the Soviet regime have not
vacillated even an iota since the days
when I participated in its creation.
THE fight which carry on together
with my friends and my closest CO.
thinkers within the Communist ranks
does not touch the general questions OF
Socialism, but the methods of the reali-
zation of the tasks imposed by the Oc-
tober revolution.
If those at Warsaw and Bucharest
hope the interior difficulties of the
Soviet Union can reflect the tendency
represented nv me in tho camn of this