The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-28

to undermine the authority of the
present leadership and to replace
it by leaders Of our own organi-
cation, zinovieY, Kamenev, etc,
who are supporters Of changing the
present Party line"
Hank further testified:
"Our organization imbued us with
the view that difficulties will con-
tinue in the country (the achieve
ments were not taken into account)
so long as the present leaders direct
the Party Hence, from these
ounter-revolutionary positions and
views arose the terrorist act which
was committed against Kirov by
Mike Gev, member Of our organiza-
tion."
Runyantsev, who was described
by another accused, Tormasov, as a
most definite supporter Of terrorist
methods, similarly described the
feelings which dominated this group.
Regarding the terrorist methods
of action adopted by this under
ground anti-Soviet group, Nikolaey
gave exhaustive testimony:
Hoped for Intervention
1--WE could not expect change
in the Party leadership by methods
of inner-party democracy. We real
ize that this path was entirely ex-
cluded. Hence, one path alone re-
mained-the path of terrorist acts.
When I shot at Kirov, I reasoned
thus: Our shot must be the signal
for calling for actions within the
country against the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union and the
Soviet Government"
Not hoping, however, to bring
about such actions inside the coun-
try" the group put its stakes directly
on help from the outside" on
armed intervention and assistance
from certain foreign governments.
The hope for intervention as the
only method to overthrow Soviet
power, clearly characterizes the
views of the accused Nikolaev him
self, who did not conceal this from
the persons nearest him.
The investigation established that
Nikolaev, according to preliminary
agreement, frequently visited GER
tain consulate in Leningrad (the
country and the name Of the con-
sui is not given in the published
copy of the indictment for diplo-
matte reasons) and conducted nego-
tiations with him on the possible
forms of help for the group. Niko-
laev gave that consul information
on certain questions interesting to
him. Nikolaev stated in his testi-
mony of Dec. 20:
Deal With Consul
IT indicated that we were always
ready to assist the consul with
correct information on what was
taking place within the Soviet
Union. Further, I requested the
consul to give us material help, stat
ing that we would return the money
received from him when our finan-
cial affairs changed. At our next
meeting-the third or fourth in the
premises of the consulate-the con-
sui informed me that he agreed to
satisfy my request and gave me
5000 rubles. He said that he could
establish contacts with Trotzky If
I gave him some letter from the
group to Trotzky. informed Koto-
linov of my talk with the consul,
giving him $500 rubles and retain
ing 500 rubles for myself"
Thus the aims and methods Of
struggle of this counter-revolution-
ist terrorist group in Leningrad
completely comedies with the aims
and methods of the open enemies Of
the people-the emigrant White
Guard landlord capitalist organiza-
lions, the Russian General Mill
tary Union" and the brotherhood
Of Russian Truth" Ghe Denikinites)
who openly advocate terror, sys-
tematically sending their agents
into the territory of the U. s. S. R.
with the aim of organizing and
conducting terrorist acts against the
representatives of Soviet power and
who committed the murders of Vo-
rovsky, Soviet Minister to Poland,
and Voykov, Soviet representative
assassinated at Geneva.
Two Terrorist Groups
During this period two terrorist
groups were operating in Leningrad.
One of them, to which Nikolaev be-
longed, was led by member of the
"Leningrad Center" named Kotol-
nov. The other group, according to
Nikolaev, worked under the leader
ship of Shatski. The Kotolinov
group prepared the terrorist act
against Kirov and the actual per-
Torrance Of the murder was as
signed to Nikolaev. A similar task
was given to the Shatski group,
which acted independently from
the first group. Nikolaev testified
that the Kotolinov group had pre-
pared terroristic act also against
Stain, utilizing the contacts which
they possessed in Moscow. Stimuli
taneously, Shatski, with his group
also made preparations to kill
Stain.
The preparations for the murder
of Kirov were conducted chiefly in
the Smolny district, while Shatski
operated in the district of Kirov's
home. In the summer of 1874 Shatski
had already made observations OF
Kirov's apartments, recording all
the movements of Kirov. The pos
sible alternative forms of attack
were worked out by Nikolaev anc
Kotolinov. According to the testi-
mony of Nikolaev, Kotolinov saic
that "the removal of Kirov would
weaken the existing leadership Of
the Communist Party Of the Soviei
TT,,iAy, That 4l.o