THE CASE OF

Leon Trotsky


Appendices and Letters


Supplementary Statement by Albert M. Glotzer

On May 12th, 1937, upon my return from the hearings of the Preliminary Commission of Inquiry in Coyoacán, Mexico, I received the following letter from Mr. Albert Goldman, the attorney for Leon Trotsky, and copies of two additional letters dealing with the question of entering into the record additional exhibits which arrived from Europe after the close of the hearings. Following is an exact copy of the letter of Mr. Goldman, and his enclosures:

ALBERT GOLDMAN
Attorney-at-Law
155 W. Madison Street
Chicago
May 12, 1937

Albert Glotzer, 155 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois

Dear Sir:
I am enclosing a copy of a letter which I addressed to the sub-commission that took Mr. Trotsky’s testimony at Coyoacán, Mexico, asking permission to introduce as a supplementary exhibit a certain document which we received after the hearings were closed. I am also sending you a copy of a letter which I received from Miss Suzanne LaFollette granting my request, on behalf of the sub-commission.

If you have not as yet completed the typing of the record will you kindly insert the material I am now sending you and show the introduction into the evidence of a document written by Windfeld-Hansen and having reference to the testimony of alleged sabotage introduced at the Radek-Pyatakov trial by Hrasche, one of the defendants?

Sincerely yours,
[Signed] ALBERT GOLDMAN


(Copy of letter of Mr. Goldman to the Commission and Mr. John Finerty. Attorney for the Commission.)

May 5, 1937

To the Members of the Commission and to John Finerty, Attorney for the Commission:

We have received a deposition from Windfeld-Hansen, a Danish engineer who was mentioned by one of the defendants in the Radek-Pyatakov trial as one who was implicated in acts of sabotage. During the hearings I mentioned that such a deposition was on the way from Denmark, and since it deals with an exceedingly important aspect of the whole case I would like to have your permission to introduce it as a supplementary exhibit. This will enable you to include it among the printed exhibits in case you decided to publish the exhibits together with the testimony and speeches.

I would appreciate your acting on the matter at your earliest convenience. You can either sign this letter indicating your consent or grant it in a more formal manner if you deem it best. I am assuming that there will be no objection to my request. I have taken steps to get the consent of Otto Ruehle.

Sincerely,
[Signed] ALBERT GOLDMAN


(copy of letter from Suzanne LaFollette)

222 West 23rd York
10 May, 1937

Mr. Albert Goldman
Attorney-at-Law,
105 West Madison St.,
Chicago; Illinois

Dear Mr. Goldman:

With reference to the deposition from Windfeld-Hansen which you have asked permission to introduce as a supplementary exhibit in Mr. Trotsky’s case, I am authorized by the sub-commission to say that we are willing to have it so introduced.

Yours sincerely,
[Signed] SUZANNE LAFOLLETTE
Secretary.
[By order of the sub-commission the deposition of Windfeld-Hansen was added to the evidence as Exhibit No. 34 - Ed.]


APPENDIX I
In re Copenhagen

Londres 127.
Coyoacán, D.F.
Mexico.
May 29, 1937.

To The Commission of Inquiry:
(Copy to Attorney Goldman)

I am enclosing a document of exceptional importance, a letter from me to my son, written December 3, 1932, in the cabin of the boat en route from Denmark to France. This letter alone suffices to overthrow Holtzman’s deposition about his alleged visit to me in Copenhagen. I present here the first part of the letter which bears directly on the question of showing whether Leon Sedov was or was not in Copenhagen at the end of November, 1932:

Liovoussiatka, so it seems that we shall not succeed in meeting: between the arrival of the boat at Dunquerke and the departure of the boat from Marseilles, there is just time to cross France. To wait for the next boat (a whole week!) will not, of course, be permitted us ... Mother is very, very dejected that the meeting did not take place, and I also ... Nothing to be done ...

Then follows advice of a political nature, which, through the intermediacy of my son, I transmitted to third persons. The letter ended thus:

Let us hope that Jeanne returned home safely.
I clasp you in my arms and embrace you. Yours. 1/12/1932. Cabin on board ship. Mother embraces you (she is still asleep; it is seven o’clock in the morning) – She will probably write you today.

This letter requires some explanations.

  1. Unlike the overwhelming majority of the other letters, it is not written by machine but by hand, on two pages torn from a notebook. This is explained by the fact that on the boat I had neither a Russian collaborator with me, nor a Russian typewriter.
  2. It is precisely because the letter was written by hand that no copy was preserved in my archives; consequently I could not present the letter to the Commission at a more timely moment. As far as the papers of my son are concerned, they are not kept by him in a classified and orderly form as mine are; furthermore not in his apartment because he is constantly in fear of a raid by the agents of the GPU. This explains how my son happened upon this exceptionally precious document only recently, while going through old papers.
  3. From the text of the letter it is absolutely clear that my son was not in Copenhagen, and that his wife, Jeanne, was.
  4. Since the question might be raised whether the letter might have been written recently, in the interests of the defense, I ask that the letter be subjected to a chemical analysis which will establish with certainty that it was written several years ago.

LEON TROTSKY


222 West 23rd St.,
New York,
June 9, 1937

Mr. Leon Trotsky,
127 Avenida de Londres,
Coyoacán, D.F.
Mexico.

Mr. Trotsky:
This is to acknowledge your letter of May 29, enclosing and commenting upon a letter written by you to Leon Sedov, dated 3/12/1932. I am authorized by the Commission to accept in evidence the letter to Leon Sedov, and to include both that and your explanatory letter in the exhibit labeled “Copenhagen.”

Yours sincerely,
SUZANNE LAFOLLETTE
Secretary of the Commission.


Avenida Londres 127,
Coyoacán, D.F.
Mexico
June 30, 1937

To the Commission Or Inquiry

I am sending you, directly and simultaneously with this letter, some very important documents, consisting of two notebooks and one separate exercise-sheet. These belonged to Leon Sedov during his studies at the Technische Hochshule in Berlin. Student attendance at the Hochshule noted by the professors with stamps on the exercises submitted. You will see that there are three stamps from the 25th, 26th, and the 27th of November 1932, that is, just the time of my sojourn in Copenhagen. In the coming days you will receive a new official document (a student passport) with three stamps confirming Leon Sedov’s presence at the Hochshule November 29. That all these documents belong to that period can be established by chemical analysis. Now, I believe, the Commission has at its disposal a whole documentation confirming that in the last week of November, 1932, Sedov was in Berlin and not in Copenhagen. Permit me to express the opinion that an alibi of such fullness and incontestability has perhaps never been established.

LEON TROTSKY


222 West 23rd St.,
New York,
July 13, 1937

Mr. Leon Trotsky
127 Avenida de Londres,
Coyoacán, D.F.,
Mexico

Dear Mr. Trotsky:
The notebooks and separate exercise sheet of Leon Sedov, to which you referred in your letter of June 30, arrived several days ago, and I am authorized by the Commission to accept them in evidence. They will be included in the exhibit labelled “Copenhagen.”

Yours sincerely,
SUZANNE LAFOLLETTE
Secretary of the Commission


APPENDIX II
Factual Corrections

Londres 127,
Coyoacán, D.F.,
Mexico,
June 29, 1937

To the Commission OF Inquiry:

The depositions which I made before the sub-commission in Coyoacán contain some factual inaccuracies. Actually not one of them has any direct bearing on the object of the Commission’s inquiry, or can influence its conclusions, nevertheless, in the interests of exactitude, I believe it necessary to correct here the errors which I overlooked.

  1. To a question regarding Holtzman I replied that after my departure from Russia I had neither “directly or indirectly” any communication with him (see session 3). In fact, Holtzman met my son, Sedov, in Berlin in 1932 and communicated to him, as I subsequently learned, some factual reports about the situation in the USSR. These reports were published in the Russian Bulletin of the Opposition (No.31, November 1932). This fact can be interpreted as an “indirect” communication between Holtzman and myself.
  2. To the question of Defense Attorney Goldman as to whether Blumkin had capitulated, I answered: “In a very modest manner” (See session 4). This statement is apparently erroneous. At least, I have found no evidence of Blumkin’s capitulation. He worked abroad in the counter-espionage system of the GPU. His work had a strictly individual character. His chiefs, Menzhinsky and Trilisser, considered him an irreplaceable worker and for that reason, despite Blumkin’s Oppositionist convictions. they retained him in an extremely responsible post.
  3. Regarding the question of the return from Copenhagen of my son’s wife. Jeanne Martin des Pallières, it is stated in the report (See session 4) that she made the trip from Denmark to France on the same boat as my wife and myself. This is an error. The shortest and cheapest route from Copenhagen to Paris is through Hamburg. This is the itinerary which was followed by several of our friends for whom the question of a German visa presented no difficulties. Jeanne Martin des Pallières, since she was a French citizen, went to Paris through Hamburg. I am presenting to the Commission a postcard sent by Jeanne from Hamburg to her mother. Since Jeanne left Copenhagen at the same time as we; since many friends accompanied us on the boat; since my wife and I remained continually in our cabin; and since Jeanne rejoined us in Paris, I had the incorrect impression that she left on the same boat as we.
  4. We arrived at Paris from Copenhagen, not December 5th, 1932, is indicated incorrectly in the report (See session 4. and Session 5), but December 6th. It was precisely on this day that we met our son, Leon Sedov, who had succeeded in coming from Germany.
  5. Regarding the time of Radek’s arrival in Russia (Session 3), I indicated the end of the year 1918. This is an obvious mistake. Radek took part in the Brest-Litovsk discussions at the beginning of the year 1918. He came from Stockholm to Petersburg, it seems, at the end of 1917; in any case after the October insurrection.
  6. As regards Victor Serge’s wife, it is stated in the report that she was arrested (Session 2). Actually she was sentenced to one month of forced labor with the right to spend the night in her home. The information to the effect that she became insane as a result of the repressions against her family is absolutely correct. At present she is still mentally ill in Paris.

As has already been said, none of these corrections basically affects my depositions or the conclusions which flow from them. I reserve for myself the right to correct further inaccuracies as well, to the extent that I discover them.

LEON TROTSY


222 West 23rd St.,
New York,
July 6, 1937

Mr. Leon Trotsky,
127 Avenida de Londres,
Coyoacán, D.F., Mexico

Dear Mr. Trotsky:

Your letter of June 29, making certain factual corrections in your testimony before the Preliminary Commission of Inquiry, has been received. I am authorized by the Commission to append this letter to the Record. The postcard which was enclosed, addressed to Mme. des Pallières and signed “Jeanne,” will be included in the exhibit “Copenhagen.”

Sincerely yours,
SUZANNE LAFOLLETTE
Secretary of the Commission


APPENDIX III
Correspondence

The invitations and answers reproduced below are appended to the record in pursuance of the Chairman’s announcement that they would be so appended. – Editor.

New York,
March 30, 1937

Hon. Alexander A. Troyanovsky,
Ambassador of the USSR to the USA,
Embassy of the USSR,
1119 16th St., NW
Washington, D.C.

Sir:

We request that you communicate to your Government the following message:

“Having constituted a preliminary Commission of Inquiry into the charges made against Leon Trotsky and his son, Lev Sedov, in the trials held before the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR on August 19-24th 1936, and on January 23-30th, 1937, we are proceeding to Mexico City to hold formal hearings, at which we shall take the testimony of Leon Trotsky, cross examine him and all available witnesses.

“We extend to your Government an invitation to send a representative to such hearings. Your representative will have full rights to cross examine Trotsky and his witnesses.

“To facilitate a thorough examination of the accused, Leon Trotsky, we respectfully request that your Government make available to us verbatim reports of all proceedings in the trials and the volumes of preliminary examination; and whatever other documents may be helpful to us in our work.”

[Signed] JOHN DEWEY, Chairman
[Signed] JOHN FINERTY, Counsel


DAY LETTERS

New York,
March 30, 1937

The Communist Party of the US,
50 East 13th St.,
New York City

We intend to go to Mexico with preliminary commission of inquiry to take evidence from Leon Trotsky relative to recent Moscow trials stop we shall examine and cross examine Trotsky to the best of our ability stop naturally we feel that our efforts would prove more effective if attorney appointed by the Communist Party appeared before Commission with full powers of cross examination stop if this is not possible will you provide us with material for cross examination stop our only purpose is to help ascertain the truth and we shall appreciate any help you can give us.

[Signed] JOHN DEWEY, Chairman,
[Signed] JOHN F. FINERTY, Counsel.


New York,
March 30, 1937

Joseph R. Brodsky, Esq.
100 Fifth Avenue,
New York City

We intend to go to Mexico with preliminary Commission of Inquiry to take evidence Leon Trotsky relative recent Moscow trials we shall examine and cross examine Trotsky to the best of our ability stop the Communist Party has been requested to send a lawyer to appear before the Commission with full powers of cross examination with preference expressed that they appoint you stop will you as the outstanding Communist attorney in this country either as a representative of the Communist Party or personally in your professional capacity representing the Communist point of view on the Moscow trials go to Mexico and participate in cross examination stop if this is not possible will you provide us with material for cross examination stop the group will probably leave on Friday April second stop needless to say we are not going as propagandists our only purpose being to help ascertain the truth we will appreciate any help you can give us.

[Signed] JOHN DEWEY, Chairman
[Signed] JOHN FINERTY, Counsel


Letters

Amberes 65,
México, D.F.,
7 de abril de 1937

Luis Sañchez Ponton,
Miembro Correspondiente del Secretariad de la Sociedad de Naciones
Seville 30,
México, D.F.

La Comisión Preliminar de encuesta e investigacion sobre los cargos lanzados contra Leon Trotsky en los procesos de Moscoú, invlta a la organización de Uds. a nombrar un representante acreditado para las audiencias que tendrán lugar en la casa No. 127 de la Avenida Londres en Coyoacán, D.F. y que principiaran a las 10 hs. a.m. del sabado 10 de abril, continuando por varios dias.

Las sesiones serán diarias. de 10 a.m. a 1 p.m. y de 4 p.m. Permitanos ustedes preguntarles si su organizacion podra delegar a un miembro representativo y en caso de ser así les rogamos enviarnos inmediatamente el nombre de su representante con objeto de proporcionarle una tarjeta de admision, requisito que será, sin alguna, requisito indispensable absolutamente para la admisión a las audencias.

Muy atentamente.

El Presidente de la Comisión.
[Signed] JOHN DEWEY


Letters identical with the above were sent to the following organizations:

Confederación General de Trabajadores (CGT)
Confederación Obrera Méxicana (CROM)
Federación de Sindicatos Obreros del Distrito Federal
Sindicato Unico de Trabajadores de Construcción del D.F.
Casa del Pueblo
Sindicato de Trabajadores Petroleros de la República Mexicana
Federación de Trabajadores de la Industria Electrica
Liga Cultural Israelita


The following answers were received:

SOCIEDAD DE LAS NACIONES
OFICINA DEL MIEMBRO CORRESPONDIENTE
DE LA SECRETARIA GENERAL
Sevilla 30
México, D.F.
9 de April de 1937

Dr. John Dewey, Presidente de la Comisión Investigadora en el Caso Trotsky, Ciudad.

De conformidad con los términos de la atenta invitación esa Comisión digamente presidida por Ud., se ha servido hacer a esta Organización en su nota fecha 7 de este mes a fin de acudir a las audiencias preliminares sobre investigación de los cargos lanzados contra Leon Trotsky en los procesos de Moscou, le manifiesto que el suscrito Miembro Correspondiente de la S.D.N. concurrirá personalmente en vista del interés que ofrece para dicha Sociedad el trabajo que va a desarrollar esa Comisión.

Ruego a Ud. por lo tanto se sirva enviarme la tarjeta de admisión a las sesiones respectivas.

Me es grato ofrecerle mi consideración distinguida.

[Signed] Luis SANCHEZ PONTON


CONFEDERACION GENERAL DE TRABAJADORES
Av. Indepencencia Num. 8
Despachos: 1, 2 Y 3
Mexico, D.F.

Sr. John Dewey
Calle Amberes 65
Ciudad.

En contestación a su atenta carta de fecha 7 del actual en la cual hacen formal invitación a esta Confederación para nombrar un Representante debidamente acreditado de esta Central para concurrir las audiencias que tendrán la casa 127 de la Avenida Londres de Coyoacán, D. F., y en las que se tratará a los cargos lanzados en los procesos verificados en Moscoù Rusia, en contra del camarada Léon Trotsky nos es grata hacer de su conocimiento que en junta plenaria del Comité Confederal fué nombrado Representante de esta Confederación de Trabajadores el camarada Alberto Araoz de Léon.

Al comunicar a Ud. lo anterior lo rogamos se facilitena nuestro representante todos los datos ó informaciones que el caso requiera para que pueda normar su criterio al respecto de proceder de acuerdo con las circunstancias.

Aprovechamos la ocasion para suscribirnos fraternalmente de Ud. por la conquista de la jornada máxima de seis horas de labor con pago de ocho.

SALUD Y REVOLUCION PROLETARIA.
México, D. F. 10 de abril de 1937.
P. EL COMITE CONFEDERAL.
El Srio. General.
[Signed] JULIO RAMIREZ
El Srio. del Exterior.
[Signed] ALFONSO FERNADENS Z.


CONFEDERACION REGIONAL OBRERA MEZICANA
Republica de Cuba Num. 60
México, D.F.
Abril 9 de 1937

Sr. John Dewey,
Presente.

Agradecemos la invitación que se ha servido Ud. hacernos en su carta de fecha 8 del actual, para nombrar una persona que en representación de nuestra Organización asista a las sesiones de encuesta e investigación sobre los cargos lanzados contra Léon Trotsky en los procesos de Moscoù.

En contestación nos permitimos informarle que hemos designado para asistir a las citadas sesiones, a nuestro compañero Emilio Mújica, quien entregará personalmente esta carta. Igualmente participamos a Ud. que nuestro Delegado tendrá personalmente el caracter de observador, pues nuestra Organización no participa de los cargos contra Leon Trotsky, ni tiene elementos de información bastante, con este motivo, para poder juzgar acerca de lo mismo.

Atentamente
Salud y Revolución Social.
Comité Central.

Secretario General.
[Signed] RICARDO TREVINO


FEDERACION DE SINDICATOS OBREROS DEL DISTRITO FEDERAL
Belisario Dominguez 64,
México, D.F.

Al Sr. John Dewey
Presidente de la Comisión de Investigación.
Amberes No. 65,
Ciudad.

Muy señor nuestro:

En nuestro poder su atenta de fecha 8 de los corrientes por la cual se nos invita para asistir a las Audiencias que del jurado en contra de Leon Trotski, tendrán verificativo en la casa No. 127 de la Av. Londres, en Coyocán, D.F.

En debida contestación participamos a usted que es de bastante interés para nosotros el caso, por lo que, de ser posible, pedimos se nos extiendan dos Tarjetas de Admisión a nombre de los CC. Emiliano B. Esqueda y Francisco Castillo, si no fuere posible otorgar las dos Tarjetas de Admisión, en este caso deberá cxtenderse una en favor del C. Esqueda.

Hemos de merecer de usted nos remita por correo las Tarjetas de referencia, y si hubiere necesidad de acudir a recogerlas, suplicamos también se nos avise por nuestros teléfonos: Eric. 6-80-47 y Mex. J. 28-78.

Muy agradecidos por la invitación que se nos hizo, aprovechamos esta oportunidad para suscribirnos de usted atenta y fraternalmente.

“SALUD Y REVOLUCION SOCIAL”
México, D. F., a 9 de abril de 1937.
POR EL COMITE EJECUTIVO.
EL SRIO. GENERAL:
[Signed] EMILIANO B. ESQUEDA.0


SINDICATO UNICO DE TRABAJADORES DE CONSTRUCCION DEL D.F.
Rep. del Salvador 11-A.

Mr. John Dewey.
Amberes No. 65.
Ciudad.

En atención a la invitación de ustedes para que este Sindicato se haga representar en el jurado que se esta llevando a cabo al compañero León Trotsky, participamos a ustedes que este Sindicato ha designado al compañero Raymundo Romo para que lo represente en dicho acto.

Quedamos de usted fraternalmente.

“POR LA EMANCIPACION DEL PROLETARIADO”
México, D. F., abril 12 de 1937
Por el Comité Ejecutivo.
El. Srio. General.

[Signed] JUAN R. DE LA CRUZ


CASA DEL PUEBLO

SINDICATO DE OBREROS PANADEROS BIZCOCHEROS Y REPOSTEROS DEL DISTRITO FEDERAL

Sr. John Dewey
Amberes 65
Ciudad.

Atendiendo la invitación que se ha servido formular a la Central de Obreros y Campesinos del Distrito Federal “Casa del Pueblo,” la Comisión preliminar de encuesta e investigación sobre los cargos lanzados contra León Trotsky en los procesos de Moscou; se tiene a bien comunicar a usted que se acredita Delegado por ésta Central de trabajadores, al compañero Genaro Gómez.

Lo que se hace de su conocimiento para los fines a que haya lugar.

Por la Causa del Proletariado Internacional.
México, D.F., abril so de 1937.
Unión y Emancipación.
Por el Comité Ejecutivo.
El Secretario.

[Signed] MANUEL DE LA SERNA


EL TIEMPO
Periódico Bisemanal
Articulo 123 No. 47.
México, D.F.

Sr. John Dewey
Presidente de la Comisión.
Calle Amberes 65

Muy señor nuestro:

La Liga Cultural Israelita y el Periódico Bisemanal “El Tiempo” agradecen la atención que la Comisión Investigadora por conducto de su Presidente, el Señor John Dewey, se ha servido dispensarnos invitando a dichas organizaciones para enviar un representante al Jurado contra León Trotsky, que desde el día 10 de abril se celebrará en esta Capital.

Tomando en consideración el interés mundial que reviste el mencionado Jurado, estas Agrupaciones agradecen su atención y para el efecto queda nombrado el Sr. Jacobo Abrams para que concurra a ellas con el caracter de nuestro representante legalmente autorizado por estas Agrupaciones, y a quien estimaremos se sirvan acreditar, en viándole por nuestro conducto la Tarjeta de admisión acredite como tal, y que será necesaria para que pueda desempeñar la comisión que le hemos dado.

Dándole nuestras más expresivas gracias por su fineza nos repetimos suyos afmos. attos. y Ss.Ss.

“LIGA CULTURAL ISRAELITA”
El Presidente

[Signed] A. JESIOV
PERIODICO “EL TEMPO”
[Signed] JACOBO ABRAMS


Cards of admission were also issued to the following: Ramon Garibay. representing the Sindicato de Panaderos, Bizocheros y Reposteros del Distrito Federal; Ingeniero Francisco Briera-Alvirez, representing the Sindicato de Electricistas del D.F.


Amberes 65,
México, D.F.
April 8, 1937

Secretario General,
Partido Nacional Revolucionario,
Paseo de la Reforma IS,
México, D.F.

Dear Sir:

On behalf of the Preliminary Commission to Inquire into the Charges Made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow trials, I take pleasure in inviting you, as representative of the Partido Nacional to be present at its hearings.

This Preliminary Commission has only one function: To gather all available evidence bearing on the charges made against Mr. Trotsky. It will confine itself to this function.

The hearings will be held from ten to one and from four to seven daily, including Sunday. beginning on Saturday, April 10, at Avenida de Londres 127, Coyoacán, D.F.

May we ask you to inform us imnmnediately whether or not you can be present, in order that we may send you a card of admission? In case you are unable to attend, we shall be glad to send a card to any representative of your party whom you may designate.

With the assurance of my highest personal regard, I am,

[Signed] JOHN DEWEY,
Chairman


Amberes 65,
Mexico, D.F.,
April 11, 1937

Secretario General,
Partido Nacional Revolucionario.
Paseo de la Reforma 18,
Mexico, D.F.

Dear Sir:

Since I have had no reply to my letter of the eighth, a copy of which is enclosed, I am writing you once more to invite you to represent the Partido Nacional at the hearings of the Preliminary Commission to Inquire into the Charges Made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials. Our receipt for the original of this letter is numbered 0073983.

In order to save time, I suggest that in case you wish to come or send a representative, the presentation of this letter at the entrance will secure a card of admission.

With the assurance of my highest personal regard. I am,

Yours sincerely,
[Signed] JOHN DEWEY
Chairman


Amberes 65
México, D.F.,
April 8, 1937

Lic. Vicente Lombardo Toledano,
Secretario General de la C.T.M.,
Mexico. D.F.

Dear Mr. Toledano:

On behalf of the Preliminary Commission to Inquire into the Charges Made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials, I take pleasure in inviting you to be preseent at its hearings. We are inviting you as the head of the dominant labor movement in Mexico; and also because of your well known and clear position on this historic issue.

This Preliminary Commission has only one function: To gather all available evidence bearing on the charges made against Mr. Trotsky. It will confine itself to this function. We would welcome your cooperation in the cross examination of Mr. Trotsky or any other witness who may appear before us on the evidence and documents submitted at the hearings.

The hearings will be held from ten to one and from four to seven daily, including Sunday, beginning on Saturday, April 10 at Avenida de Londres 127, Coyoacán, D.F. May we ask you to inform us immediately whether or not you can be present, in order that we may send you a card of admission?

In the hope that you will consent to facilitate the work of our Commission within the logic of its function, I am, with the highest personal regard.

Yours sincerely,
[Signed] JOHN DEWEY
Chairman


CONFEDERACION DE TRABAJADORES DE MEXICO
Balderas Num. 27
México, D.F.

Señor doctor
John Dewey.
Amberes #65.
México, D.F.

Por la seriedad y el prestigio de que merecidamente goza la Confederación de Trabajadores de México ante el proletariado internacional, me veo en la caso de no aceptar la amable invitación de usted para asistir al llamado jurado de Trotsky.

Hago presents a usted las seguridades de mi consideración más distinguida.

“POR UNA SOCIEDAD SIN CLASES”
Mexico, D.F., 9 de abril de 1937.
POR EL COMITE NACIONAL DE LA CONFEDERACION DE TRABAJADORES DE MEXICO.
EL SECRETARIO GENERAL,
[Signed] VICENTE LOMBARDO TOLEDANO


Amberes 65,
Mexico, D.F.
April 8, 1937

Mr. Hernán Laborde, Secretary
The Communist Party of Mexico
4, Calle de Soto 83
Mexico, D.F.

Dear Mr. Laborde:

On behalf of the Preliminary Commission to Inquire into the Charges Made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials, I take pleasure in inviting you, as official representative of the Communist Party of Mexico, to be present at its hearings.

This Preliminary Commission has only one function: To gather all available evidence bearing on the charges made against Mr. Trotsky. It will confine itself to this function. We would welcome your cooperation in the cross examination of Mr. Trotsky or any other witness who may appear before us, on the evidence and documents submitted at the hearings.

The hearings will be held from ten to one and from four to seven daily, including Sunday, beginning on Saturday, April 10, at Avenida Londres 127, Coyoacán, D.F. May we ask you to inform us immediately whether or not you can be present, in order that we may send you a card of admission?

In the hope that you will consent to facilitate the work of our Commission within the logic of its function, I am, with the highest personal regard,

Yours sincerely,
[Signed] JOHN DEWEY
Chairman


PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE MEXICO
(Sección de la Internacional Comunista)
COMITE CENTRAL,
4, de Soto, 83
México, D.F.
8 de Abril de 1937

Sr. John Dewey
Amberes #65
Mexico, D.F.

Recibimos su atenta carta de hoy en la que tiene usted a bien invitarnos a presenciar las audiencias de la Comisión que usted preside y que se propone investigar los cargos hechos (y probados) al Sr. Trotsky en los Procesos de Moscú.

El Buró Político del Comité Central de nuestro Partido ha resuelto declinar la invitación, por considerar que se trata evidentemente de un grupo parcial formado por amigo declarados o encubiertos de Trotsky, previamente decididos a absolverlo de sus crímenes y a ofrecerle una ocasión de reanudar sus ataques a la Unión Soviética y su campaña contra el frente único popular anti-fachista.

Concurrir a las audiencias de la Comisión que usted preside sería tanto como dar valor a lo que no tiene ninguno.

Esperamos que todas las organizaciones serias y responsables rehusarán su participación en esta comedia trotskista.

De usted muy atentamente.

PROLETARIOS DE TODOS LOS PAISES, UNIOS
Por el Buró Politico del Comité Central del Partido Comunista
[Signed] HERNAN LABORDE,
Secretario General


Amberes 65
Mexico, D.F.
April 9, 1937

Professor David Vilches, President,
Asociación de Profesores Méxicanos,
Basilio Vadillo, 9
Mexico, D.F.

Dear Professor Vilches:

The preliminary Commission to Inquire into the Charges Made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials invites you to be present at the hearings to be held at Avenida de Londres 127, Coyoacán, D.F., beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 10. The hearings will be held daily (including Sundays) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

May we ask you to inform us immediately whether or not you can be present in order that we may send you a ticket of admission?

Very sincerely,
[Signed] JOHN DEWEY
Chairman


FEDERACION DE TRABAJADORES DE LA ENSEÑANZA DEL DISTRITO FEDERAL
San Ildefonso 36
México, D.F.

Señor Profesor John Dewey,
Chairman de la Comisión para investigar sobre los cargos hechos contra Leon Trotsky en el Jurado de Moscú.
Avenida Londres 127
Coyoacán, D.F.

Estimado seiior profesor:

Siendo el Secretario General de la Federación de Trabajadores de la Enseñanza del Distrito Federal, miembro de la FROC y de la CTM, por un deber de lealtad y por mis convicciones personales, me veo en la pena de no aceptar la atenta invitacion de usted para asistir a las audiencias de la Investigación.

Agradeciendo mucho su invitación, quedo de usted atento y seguro servidor.

POR UNA SOCIEDAD SIN CLASES
México, D.F, 9 de abril de 1937.
POR EL COMITE EJECUTIVO.
EL SECRETARIO GENERAL.
[Signed] DAVID VILCHES


Amberes 65
Mexico, D.F.,
April 11, 1937

Mr. Santiago R. De la Vega,
Palacio de Bellas Artes,
Ciudad

My dear Mr. De la Vega:

The preliminary Commission to Inquire into the Charges made Against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials invites you to be present at the hearings which are now being held at Avenida de Londres 127, Coyoacán, D.F. The hearings will be held daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If you will present this letter at the door you will receive a ticket of admission to all the sessions.

Very sincerely,
[Signed] JOHN DEWEY
Chairman

Letters identical with the above were sent to Sr. Francisco Zamora. Sr. Aurelio Manrique, and Sr. Antonio Hidalgo.


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Last updated on: 4.4.2007