The New York Times, August 25, 1940

U.S. Forbids Entry of Trotsky’s Body

No Specific Reason Is Cited, but Fear of
Demonstration Is Believed Cause

SOVIET CALLS HIM TRAITOR

PRESS SEES DESERVED END FOR EXILE
ACCUSED SAYS HE HAD NO ACCOMPLICES

Special to The New York Times

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25—The State Department announced today that the body of Leon Trotsky would not be permitted to be brought to the United States from Mexico.

There was no reason offered, but it was assumed that the possibility was foreseen of Communist and anti-Communist demonstrations, if the body were brought here.

“In response to an inquiry from American Consul George P. Shaw in Mexico City,” the announcement said, “the department has informed him that it perceives no reason for bringing Trotsky’s body to the United States and that it would not be appropriate to do so.”

SOVIET CHARGES PERFIDY

MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (AP)–The Soviet press, giving the Russian people their first word today of the death of Leon Trotsky in Mexico City last Wednesday night, proclaimed it the “inglorious end” of a “murderer, traitor and international spy.”

It was the first mention of the attack since a brief dispatch on Thursday reported that an attempt had been made on the life of the exiled Communist leader by one of his followers.

The Communist party organ, Pravda, charged Trotsky with sabotaging the Red Army during the civil war, plotting to kill Lenin and Joseph Stalin in 1918, organizing the slaying of Sergei Kiroff and plotting to kill Maxim Gorky, and with having served in the secret service of Britain, France, Germany and Japan.

“Trotsky, having gone to the limits of human debasement, became entangled in his own net and was killed by one of his own disciples,” said Pravda. “Thus, a hated man came to his inglorious end, going to his grave with the stamp of murderer and international spy on his forehead.”