"One of our agents from America is a well-known international Socialist"

["stolz" <stolz@xxxxxxx>]

Dear List,

I have a question for historians of October and Trotsky biographers

Reading about the activities of Somerset Maugham (Of Human Bondage,
etc.), the Chief Resident of British intelligence in Russia in 1917, I came
across a reference to a "well-known international Socialist" who was a
British agent and who was used to challenge Trotsky in public on the eve of
October resurrection.

It comes from the Appendix on Maugham's role in Allied Espionage
in Russia in Robert Calder's _W. Somerset Maugham and the Quest for
Freedom_
(London, 1972, p. 286).  The document is a report of January 19, 1918,
entitled
"Intelligence and Propaganda Work in Russia July to December 1917".  It
is a part
of the Private Papers of Sir William Wiseman, in the E.M. House
Collection, Yale University
Library, New Haven, Connecticut.  Wiseman, officially head of the British
Purchasing Commission
in the United States during the First World War, was in fact the head of
M.I. 1.C (later known as
M.I.6) in the United States and Maugham's handler.

Here's the full quote:

"One of our agents from America is a well-known international Socialist, &
he was at once accepted by the BOLSHEVICS and admitted to their conferences.
He challenged TROZKY to a public discussion of the situation, which was
accepted and the discussion took place in Petrograd at the begining of
November."

Now my question obviously is:  Who was that man?  I checked a few
available to me sources like Trotsky's _History_ and several others but could
not find any reference to a public debate of this sort.
The quote suggests that the agent 1) belonged to the side opposing the
resurrection; 2) was a part of the group coming from the United States, like
Trotsky himself.  3) He must have been sufficiently important figure in the
eyes of Trotsky to deserve a public discussion during those hectic days.  Any
ideas?


I do not know if Maugham's activities, and generally those of the Entente
intelligence, in Russia have been studied by Marxist historians of the
October Revolution, but I find these materials of  substantial historical and
propagandist value.  To give one jucy example, in an earlier report on
Maugham's plans, Wiseman proposed to create "Department # 3 [to] support the
moderate Socialist party known as the MENSHEVICS.  This party is opposed to
BOLSHEVICS, or extremists, and favors reorganization of the army, and
energetic continuation of the war.  It is, however, entirely Liberal and even
Socialist in character, but its outstanding feature is anti-Prussian.  This
department will start a newspaper at the Front for distribution amongst the
soldiers to counteract the very dangerous BOLSHEVIC newspaper which is now
being published there."   For starters, Maugham and Wiseman requested
$500,000.


When today in Russia we have to confront the activities of Friedrich Ebert
Foundation and the like, financing our "democratic socialists",  "new left",
and "antiglobalists" of Buzgalin and Kagarlitsky type, it is somehow
encouraging to think that all than began back then, with "Department #3"
and impeccable British gentlemen helping Tseretelis and Abramovichs to fight
the Bolshevik "extremists."
Tradition for the oppressed is no less important than for their oppressors.

Vadim Stolz




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