-Caveat Lector- No question at all that Lenin's peace with Germany (formally concluded in March 1918 following the armistice of Dec. 1917) allowed the latter to shift forces to the Western Front and launch a series of big attacks.
Re Jacob Schiff's role in all this, there's not much certain at all. Schiff was a long time enemy of the Tsarist Regime and definitely had bankrolled revolutionary activities in the past; for intance, paying for anti-Tsarist propaganda distributed to Russian POWs during ther Russo-Japanese War. I have also seen mention of the press article in which his son allegedly states that dad deposited $10 million, $20 million or $X million for use of Lenin & Co. However, following one citation, which put the year of publication as 1949 I found no there there. I'm perfectly wiling to accept that Schiff did that or just about anything else, but I simply haven't seen any real evidence of it. A copy of the supposed article hopefully would clarify whether the younger Schiff was quoted directly or if it was someone recalling a statement (or making it up). One thing to keep in mind is that at the time he left New York, Trotsky was a revolutionary socialist but not a Bolshevik (not until July 1917). Among his arguments with Lenin was the issue of Russia's unilateral withhdrawal from the war. In an interview with the New York Times just before his departure, T expressed his firm oposition to a separate peace. Interestingly, at just this time, William Wiseman was hatching a scheme to pump pro-Allied propaganda into Russia and was especially interested in finding credible leftists who opposed separate peace to go back to Russia and spread the gospel. The fact that at the time T fit the part perfectly makes me suspect that Wiseman's failure to obstruct his return was no oversight. Wittingly or not, the aim was to use T as an Allied agent. To further muddle the picture, one of financial backers of Wiseman's scheme was none other than Jacob Schiff. The details of the arrangement can be found in W.B. Fowler's _Anglo-American Relations, 1917-1919 [?]: The Role of Sir William Wiseman_. As for Mr. Reilly (originally Salomon Rosenblum), for any who may be interested my biography of that worthy, _Trust No One: The Secret World of Sidney Reilly_ is to come out from Feral House this October. The core of its research contains files from Russian, British, American and other archives, including relevant FSB[KGB], MI5 and MI6 dossiers. Probably the most interesting thing these documents reveal is that none of the agencies had any real idea who they were dealing with. The Ace-of-Spies series, while immensely entertaining, contains only bits and pieces of the truth and a lot of fiction. His actual career, suffice to say, has no shortage of genuine intrigue and, dare I say, conspiracy. For instance, Reilly also served as an informant for Wiseman in WWI New York and the pair remained close for many years to come. Best Regards, Rick Spence <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
