Introduction to the Merit Publishers, 1969 Edition, by George Novak
REPORT TO THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY
Opening Statements – Biography of Leon Trotsky – Early revolutionary activity – Revolution of 1905 – Opposition to World War – Sojourn in America – Role in October Revolution, Civil War, Soviet Government – Expulsion from Party – Exile – Activities Abroad – Copenhagen – France – Norway – Arrest
Mexico – Loss of Citizenship – Family – Writings on Terrorism – Petrograd, Warsaw, Brest-Litovsk – Archives – Danger of Bonapartism – Policy of Comintern – Lenin’s Testament – Vyshinsky’s Charges of Anti-Leninism
Relations with Lenin – Open Letter to Central Executive Committee – Relations with Defendants – The Troika – Bloc with Zinovev and Kamenev – Expulsion of Opposition – Capitulations – Olberg – Radek
Trotsky’s Attitude Toward Defendants, Zinoviev-Kamenev Trial – Radek – Capitulators – Relations with Defendants – Loyal Opposition – Communications with USSR – Blumkin – Copenhagen – Return – Meeting with Son – Witnesses – Sedov’s Passport – Telegram to Herriot – Hotel Bristol – Danish Press
Testimony of Trotsky’s Secretary on Copenhagen Hotel Bristol – Sound Film to Opposition – Olberg – Romm – Trotsky’s Removal to France – Landing at Cassis – Trip to Saint Palais – Fire – Life in Saint Palais – Bagnères – Barbizon – Discovery – Press Attacks – Romm – Documentary Evidence
Precautions on Trip to France – Documentary Evidence – Romm – Pyatakov – Trotsky’s Life in Norway – Knudsen’s Telegram to Vyshinsky – Norwegian press – Trotsky’s Proposition to Moscow Court – Pyatakov – Certain Defendants
Soviet Treason Law – Aftenposten on Pyatakov – Hrasche – Ciliga on Confessions – Brobnis – Tsentralnaya Explosion – Industrialization, Five-Year Plan, Collectivization – Soviet Statistics – Trotsky’s Warnings – Attitude on Terror – Kirov Assassination – Communications with USSR
Terroristic Tendencies Among the Youth – The Question of Conspiracy – Attitude Toward Change of Soviet Régime – Omission of Molotov from List of Victims – Defense of USSR – Clemenceau Thesis – Fourth International – Spain – Position in Case of Attack on USSR
Stalinist Policy in Spain – Foreign Policy of Lenin and Trotsky – Soviet Union in a Capitalistic World – War and Socialism – Attitude toward Germany and Japan – Alliance of USSR with Capitalist Countries – Lenin’s Trip Through Germany – Polish War – Struggle Between Left Opposition and Stalinists – Theft of Archives – Finances – General Denial of Charges.
History of Bolshevik Party – Governing Bodies – Membership in 1919 – Constitution of Soviet Union – Council of People’s Commissars – Members in 1919 – The Soviets – Relations Between Party and Government – Democratic Centralism – Dictatorship of the Proletariat – New Constitution – The Socialist Revolution – The Question of Propaganda – Revolutionary, Individual and Thermidorean Terror – The Hearst Press.
Bureaucracy and Fascist Alliances – Terrorism – United Front and Popular Front – Party Purges – Sabotage – Trotskyites in Siberia – Muralov’s Confession – Method of Securing Confessions – Removal of Stalin – Accusations in First Trial – Soviet Law on Evidence – Pyatakov’s Alleged Flight – Socialism in One Country – Relations with Lenin – Distortion of Revolutionary History – Borodin in Mexico – Communist International.
Demand for Investigation of Mr. Beals’ Question – Mr. Beals’ Resignation – Statement of Chairman – Statement of Counsel for Witness – Letter from Socialist Party – Bolshevik Discipline – Slogans of the Opposition – Phases of Party Struggle – Constructive Work – The Menshevik Trials – Lenin’s Testament – Left Opposition – International Revolution – Dictatorship of the Secretariat.
THIRTEENTH SESSION
Closing Speech of Counsel for Witness – Questions of Mexican Labor Organizations – Statement of Counsel for Commission – Trotsky’s final argument: Why Is an Investigation Necessary? – Is the Investigation Politically Admissible? – The Opinion of Professor Charles A. Beard – A “Purely Juridical” Examination – Autobiography – My “Juridical” Situation – Three Categories of Proofs – The Mathematical Series of Frame-ups – The Political Basis of the Accusation: Terrorism – The Kirov Assassination – Who Drew Up the List of “Victims” of the Terror? (The Molotov “Affair”) – The Political Basis of the Accusation: “Sabotage” – The Political Basis of the Accusation: The Alliance with Hitler and the Mikado – Copenhagen – Radek – Vladimir Romm, “Witness” – Pyatakov’s Flight to Norway – What Has Been Refuted in the Last Trial? – The Prosecutor-Falsifier – The Theory of “Camouflage” – Why and Wherefore These Trials?
In re: Copenhagen – Supplementary Statement by Albert M. Glotzer – Factual Corrections – Correspondence – Why and Wherefore These Trials?
Last updated on: 20.4.2007