Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
BY LEON TROTZKY.

MEXICO CITY, March 3 (N.A.NA.).
Perhaps the most fantastic element
In the entire series Of Moscow judicial
phantasmagoria is the inclusion OF
Henry G. Yagoda, for many years head
Of the G.P.U. Is q "conspirator
In the Trotzkyist- Bukharinist center.
Anything could have been expected.
but not this.
Stain had to maneuver the political
bureau for long time before he sue
ceeded in making the hated Yagoda,
his most trusted henchman. head OF
the G.P.U. The struggle against al
factions Of the opposition was concen-
trated in Yagoda's hands since 1923.
He was not only the privy executor
Of all the falsifications and frame-ups.
but also the organizer Of the FIRST ex-
ecutions of the oppositionists back in
l929-Blumkin, Silov and Rabinovich
In the pages Of the bulletin of the
Russian opposition. edited by the late
Leon Sedov in Paris, the name OF
Yagoda is recorded again and again
with approximately the same bitter
indignation as once in revolutionary
publications the name of the chief OF
the Czarist Okhrana, Zubatov.
Stresses Absurdity '
Yagoda, himself, hand in hand with
Prosecutor Audrey Vishinsky, prepared
all the sensational trials since the
assassination OF sergei M. Kirov, In
Guiding the trial Of Gregory Zinoviev
and Leo Kamenev in August. 1895.
Systematized. breast beating confess
sions will 60 down in history As the
invention Of Henry Yagoda. II some
one were to say that Col Gen. Her
mann Goebbels is an agent Of Pope
Plus. 1t would sound considerably less
absurd than the assertion that Yagoda
is the agent Of Trotzky.
But the fact Is that, for the new
judicial structure. Yagoda was needed
not ~ architect, but rs material. The
face Of the all-powerful chief Of the
secret police was weighed and dis
posed where all such questions are
decided-Stalin's private study. VA
CODA was tabled to occupy . certain
place in the trial, As Is . pawn in q
chess strategy. One problem re-
manned: To force upon him accept
anoe Of the role assigned. But this
was the smallest difficulty. In the
first months following Yagoda's ar
rest, there was heard not even a
whisper of his completely in the con-
spiracy Of Marshall Michail N. Tux
hachevsky, the Trotskyists and the
rights. Neither Yagoda nor public
opinion had yet matured- for this
development. nor was there yet any
certainty that vbhinsky would be
able to exhibit his new client to the
public. - -
List Accusations.
The first accusations given cur
rency by the Soviet and World Press
against Yagoda listed: Licentious
manner Of living, embezzlement Of
funds. wild orgies. Were these ac-
cusations true? Concerning Yagoda,
one is justified in making full al
lowanoe for such possibilities. Ca
reerist, cynic, petty despot-he wa
surely not q model of virtue ins his
personal life. This picture is COM
pleted by adding that, II he permitted
vicious instincts to rule his life tt
criminal limits, it was only because NJ
was convinced OF his complete i'm.
punity. What Is more to the point
his mode Of life was known for q long
time to every one In Moscow, includ-
ing Stain.
Indeed, all Information impugnins
the private lives Of high Soviet func-
tionaries Is gathered by Stain with
scientific meticulousness, and Is the
basis for = special archive brought to
light piecemeal, as dictated by the
degree Of political necessity. The hour
struck when 1t became necessary to
break Yagodas moral fiber. This was
done by scandalous disclosures regard
ing his private life. Following these
body blows, the former head Of the
q. P. U. for several months was faced
with this alternative-to be shot Is
m embezzler Of government funds, Or
possibly save his life IS an alleged
conspirator. Yagoda made his choice
and was included among the Al on
trial. And 1T last the world learned
that Yagoda shot Trotskyists not only
to "camouflage" his real feelings;
actually. he was their ally and agent.
(ccpyright, 1888. by the North American