Evening star., 1937-12-23
BY ALEXANDRA BARMINE

BY ALEXANDRA BARMINE.
PARIS, Dec. % (N.A.N.A).-To the
long list OF executions of political and
military leaders in Soviet Russia, which
oegan with the trial of Gregory Zino-
VleV and companions in August, 1895,
has been added within the last few
days the names of Leo M. Karakhan,
former Ambassador to Turkey. and
Avel Yenukidze, who was the closest
' boyhood friend and fellow revolution
ary of Stain for 40 years.
Yenukidze and Stain suffered exile
In Siberia together Some years ago.
Yenuhdze was secretary of the Execu-
tive Committee of the party, that is
to say the second most important man
IN the Soviet Union. Even after his
disgrace, Stain kept him in subordi-
nate office. Now he is dead, and his
death, even more than that of Karak-
han, Nlkolai Bukharin, George Plata
kov, Marshall Mikhall Tukhachevsky
and Zinoviev, marks the degree to
which Stain has found it necessary
to rid himself of those who were his
colleagues and companions. even
friends and brothers, in the past.
There has been a change in pro-
cess only. Zinoviev and Piatakov were
given a public trial, for what it was
worth, before they were executed
Stain found it necessary to accuse
them publicly, and. some way or other
their confessions" were obtained
These confessions" served two pur-
poses. They served to satisfy the
masses that Stain was protecting the
Soviet workers and the revolution
against traitors" and, secondly, they
proved to all other future victims that
confession" was useless Zinoviev
and Piatakov were executed just the
same.
Fear Works Two Ways.
There were some perhaps, who
who knew that the trial was a comedy
and the documents invented. But
fear had begun its work 1t worked
two ways. Those who felt that, for
one reason or other they would be
accused knew they could do nothing.
On Stalins side it was recognized
that more public confessions" could
not be obtained. 1t was impossible
to risk more public trials
1t was even impossible to bring men
like Tukhachevsky, Yakir and Ubore-
witch before judges who had been
since the revolution their colleagues
and friends, men like Blucher and
Alksnis and Budenny. The names of
these men were signed to the death
sentences so as to satisfy the masses
that the traitors" had been tried and
condemned by men who had been
their friends as we'll as their judges.
Perhaps Stain sought also to cover
himself in discriminating these soldiers
in these executions without trial,
which had begun to become neces-
sary now that no more confessions"
were obtainable. But less than six
months after the condemnation to
death of Tukhachevsky, it had been
Alksnis' turn to diSappear-shot with
his wife He had been a candidate
for the Supreme Council, but few
days before the election his name was
withdrawn, and since then there has
been no news That he is dead there
is no doubt News of his death has
been published abroad and not denied
in Moscow. These other judges,
Blucher and Budenny, who signed
with him, must now be asking who
will follow.
Neither value nor merit OF any
man will save him. Alksnls was one
of the group who did so much to
make the Russian army efficient. He
was the creator of its air force, its
inspiration and guide. But that didn't
save him any more than did his sig
nature to Tukhachevsky's death war
rant. Alksnis was the last of the
four--aides of War CommiSsar Voro-
shilox to disappear. The others were
Gararnick. who is said to have COM
mitted suicide; Tukhachevsky, who
was executed, and Admiral Orlov, who
disappeared without even death
notice. Like Blucher and Budenny,
Voroshilov must sometimes wonder
about his position.
Was Filled With Hope.
Those who have been executed or
have disappeared were my chiefs, my
friends, my comrades l was 18 years
old when the revolution broke out
in Russia. Like so many others of
my generation in Russia, I was filled
with hope and enthusiasm for the new
Russia and the new world We were
going to create. I left the university
and engaged as volunteer in the
new army. At the same time, joined
the Communist party.
Six months later, I was named po-
htical commissar of the battalion and
later of the regiment, after taking
part in the fighting in the Ukraine.
After course at military school, I
served as an officer in the war against
Poland Since then, l have served
the Soviet government in many posts
and have given all my force and
strength to the workers cause which
espoused in 1919.
That have quit my post as Charge
d'Affaires at Athens and the service
Of Moscow is because I, like so many
OF those whose names I have cited
above who are dead, have been faith
full to the revolution and because
Stain has betrayed it.
wrote in a letter which I sent
some weeks ago to an inquiry COM
mittee on the Moscow trials: These
trials have been prepared for the ex-
termination in mass of those of the
Communist party in Russia who car
ried on the struggle for freedom,
wrought the revolution, fought the
civil war and assured victory of the
workers state. They have been
covered with mud and delivered over
to the executioner. 1t has seemed to
me that reactionary dictatorship has
now been set up in my country"
Cites Recent Events.
r. I did not come quickly to this con-