It is possible that, so long as Radek, former editor-in-chief of the Soviet Russian newspaper "fsvestia" lives, fantastic stories willie published about him. That printed in the "Daily Express," and emanating from Moscow, to the effect that he has been released from prison, may' be just as true, or as false, as some of the others that have preceded it. For it must be remembered that, only. short while: atten she trial at which he received a sentence of ten years imprisonment, instead of the death penalty which it was confidently believed would be his, the story was given currency that he had been freed on condition that he wrote articles supporting the government, for high treason against which he had narrowly escaped with his life. The new story, that prior to his arrest Radek had deposited abroad State documents seriously compromising Stalin with the threat; that they would be published if anything happened to him, is not sufficiently romantic to be incredible, and if true would completely account for the immunity which this self-confessed arch-traitor has received, for it must be remembered that the prosecutor Vyshynsky was emphatic in demanding that Radek should die, If the story is true it tells the tale of a position which is still not without its difficulties. Obviously Radek is safe only so long as the documents are securely hidden abroad; while he remains in Russia it is unlikely that Stalin will ever be able to obtain possession of them, If he did, Radek might receive short shrift. AN that Stalin has purchased, therefore, if the story be true, is the doubtful benefit that so long as Radek remains alive the disclosures, which such documents it is suggested contain, will not be made, but so long as they remain abroad Stalin has only secured postponement of the evil day. If, however, it subsequently transpires that Radek is permitted to travel out of Russia it, may be taken that the story, or something extremely like it is true, though at times Radek's behaviour at the trial must invest him with some aura of the legendary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.