Alexander Vassiliev, White Notebook #1, pp. 139-156. English translation by Philip Redko, reviewed and edited by Alexander Vassiliev and John Earl Haynes (2007), posted on the WWC website.

Alexander Vassiliev, draft chapter, “Golos – Bentley – Browder.” English translation by Vassiliev (1993-1996). Spelling and punctuation from Vassiliev’s original translation.

<Notebook p. 139>

[file 70994] p. 3

File 70994 “Sound”

Operatives for whom Sound was a contact:

“Harry” — from 1933 to 1939 Harry’s departure from the US

“Gennady” — 1939-1941 departure from the US

“Leonid” — 1941-Aug. 1942 (Leonid’s inability to handle Sound)

“Vardo”  — Aug. 42-May 43 — in connection with “Vardo’s” move to Wash.

“Shah” — May 43 — 25 November 1943 — Sound’s death.

[The list of operatives who had been in contact with “Sound” appears to be Vassiliev’s summary from Archival No 35112, vol. 1, pp. 343-344, 397-398 (Black Notebook, pp. 185-190; White Notebook#1, pp. 3-4. These documents are quoted extensively in Vassiliev’s draft chapter, “Golos-Bentley-Browder (addition).” – S.Ch.]

[File 70994]

In New York “Sound”’s intelligence activities were controlled by an operative G. Rabinovich (“Harry”), who on leaving the U.S. in 1939 passed him to Gaik Ovakimyan. (Ibid.,p.3).

[Other operatives are discussed in detail in “Golos-Bentley-Browder (addition)”, referenced to Archival No. 35112, vol.1, pp. 343-344, 397-398. – S.Ch.]

p. 7 “Sound,” foreign-based agent of Section 1 in Department 7 of GUGB of NKVD (dated 26.01.37)

“Sound” is Yakov Naumovich Golos (Rasin -Tasin) was recruited for work on the passport line in 1930 by Department 1 agent Smith (Chivin) while the latter was stationed in NY.

Contact with Sound was officially registered in Moscow in 1933.

Sound was born in 1890 in Yekaterinoslav, Amer. citizen, manages the World Tourist travel agency in N Y. Is a member of the control commission of the Amer. Com. Party. In 1907 managed an illegal Bolshevik printing house in Yekaterinoslav, was exposed, sent to hard labor and escaped from there via Japan to America. Real surname is Tasin. Has lived in America since 1910, handles party business. One of the organizers of the Amer. CP. Has visited the Union several times through the line of his travel agency.Sound’s passport capabilities: Personally acquainted with a clerk in the Brooklyn District passport office who, given the appropriate attachable documents, can order foreign passports through Washington.

p. 7  The clerk receives the appropriate naturalization papers and birth-certificate data and on this basis orders passports through Washington. Wash. doesn’t check these documents. The passport is sent from Wash. to the address specified by the applicant. The procedure takes three days. The Clerk’s statement plays the key role, since it is his duty to check the documents and have the applicant take a loyalty oath. He has done such passports in the past for people who arrived illegally in America. The clerk now has his own man in the department, to whom he is subordinate, but he doesn’t identify him. Sound himself, in order to get an Amer. foreign passport, can obtain by various means the naturalized papers of deceased persons or people who have left the USA. Sound had a conversation with the Clerk about the possibility of transferring him directly to us, but the clerk categorically refused and wants to work only with Sound. Passports were obtained through Sound for “Hirt” and Plumb (Orlov).

p. 9 Handwritten note: was known to individuals arrested by us:

Samsonov, Tomchin, Karin, Lebedinsky, Liveit-Levit (“Ten”), possibly to his assistant Berlin (Stark).

Note dated 19.4.38.

[In Vassiliev’s draft chapter Golos’s biographical detailes are referred to pp.7, 105,127-128, as seen below. – S.Ch.]

It is known from NKVD documents that Yacov Naumovich Golos (also Raisin and Tassin) was born in Ekaterinoslavl. In 1907 he headed a clandestine Bolshevik printing-house, was arrested, sent to Siberia where he spent two years. He escaped to Japan, then to China, and in 1910 he arrived to America.

The agent relations with Jacob Golos were officially established in 1933 in Moscow, where he came by Comintern line. (Ibid.,p.7).

Golos’ possibilities were so wide that he could propose chekisty an absolutely new channel which he didn’t use before. In a Brooklyn’s passport office

The scheme was simple: the clerk was getting naturalization papers and birth-certificates and sending them to Washington where the passport was issued automatically and sent to the address pointed by the applicant. The clerk did the main thing: he was to check the authenticity of documents and take the oath of those who craved to be an American citizen. The clerk had accomplices in Washington with whom he shared the profit, therefore all the proceedures took only three days.(Ibid.,p.8).

Naturalization documents and birth-certificates also could be got through Jacob Golos: they belonged to those who had died or left the U.S. One of those to whom Golos made an American passport was Alexandre Orlov, Soviet intelligence officer who worked in Europe.(Ibid.) The passport was issued in November,1932 for the name of William Goldin. (Costello, John and Tsarev,Oleg. The Deadly Illusions,p.93).

Lubyanka began suspecting Golos in 1937 influenced by an operative Liveit-Levit (“Tan“) (ibid.,p.9) who got suspitions about “Sound”’s trustworthiness as soon as he arrived to the New York station. (Supposedly, Liveit-Levit was a member of “Jacob Serebryansky’s group”).

<p. 140>

p. 10  To the CC of the VKP(b)

On the instructions of the CC of the Workers (Communist) Party of America we hereby request that you take immediate steps for Cde. J. Golos to be permitted to return to the USA for work with the communist party of America. Cde. Golos has significant influence among the Russian working masses in the United States. We are very weak in this area. It was a mistake by our party to have allowed him to leave America for work in the Soviet Union. Cde. Golos is a member of the Moscow organization, his membership card No. is 0032969. Expenses for his return trip will be covered by him and will not impose any expenses either on the communist party of America or on the Comintern.

With communist greetings, Jay Lovestone

Secretary of the Workers (Communist) Party of America

However, in September,1928 Jay Lovestone, secretary of the American communist party, sent to the Central Committee of the VKP(b) the following letter:

“On the instructions of the Central Committee of the Worker (communist) party of America we ask you to take urgent steps in order comrade J.Golos would be permitted to return to the U.S. to work in the American communist party. Comrade Golos has a considerable influence among Russian labour masses in the United States. We are very weak in this field. It was a mistake of our party when it allowed him to leave America to work in the Soviet Union. Comrade Golos is a member of the Moscow organization, his card’s number is 0032969. Expenses of his return travel will be covered by himself and won’t cause any charges neither to the communist party of America nor to Comintern.”(Ibid.,p.10).

p. 11 Password for contact with Sound: (Jan. 32)

Come to Golos with this necktie: “I’m giving you your necktie, which was forgotten at the National Hotel.” The necktie is to be passed along in an envelope.

(Notation: Necktie turned over to Robert.)

pp. 12-13  Sound had an opportunity to get Canadian passports in Ottawa.

p. 14  A passport in NY costs 200 dollars.

+ Sound has a contact at the Spanish consulate. A Span. passport is 100 doll.

p. 15 The Chekists transferred money to Europe through World Tourist (1.01.33)

Gradually Golos got involved in the OGPU intelligence activities. In January,1932 a pass-word was established with him: one should come to “Sound” with a tie, which was kept at Lubyanka, and say: “Here is your tie which you forgot in the “National” hotel.” The tie should have been passed in an envelope.(Ibid.,p.11).

Golos himself proposed his services to the Soviet intelligence. At that time he was busy with acquiring American and other passports for the CPUS and Comintern. In New York one could get an American passport for 200 dollars and a Spanish one – for 100 (Jacob Golos had his man in the Spanish consulate). Canadian documents were not a problem either: he was getting them through Ottawa.(Ibid.,pp.12-14).

p. 20 Smith on his acquaintance with Sound.

Got acquainted in 1930 in NY through political émigré Yakov Lvovich Pokrovsky, a worker. Golos himself suggested that Smith make use of his connections to obtain passports, which he had specifically sought for intelligence purposes and was not using through the party line.      Smith

p. 21 The clerk is close to 50 years old, makes 1800 doll. a year, but plays games of chance and bets on horses. Has a house and a car.            Clerk

p. 26 We wanted to connect the clerk with the illegal operative Archimedes, but the former refused and even threatened Sound, “which in these people’s language means quite real things.” The conversation about a turnover has been terminated. Things continued through Sound.

p. 27 In November 1935 Sound arrived in M. on World Tourist and party business. The Chekists opposed this trip.

p. 30 In M. Sound discussed at the appropriate levels the question of his wife and son moving to M. Assigning his son to a Soviet school. Celia Raisen and Sam (13 years old).

In 1930 in New York through a political refugee from tsarist Russia Jacob Pokrovsky Jacob Golos got acquainted with the Soviet “illegal” Chivin (“Smith”) who was a station chief of the OGPU special operations group headed by Jacob Serebryansky. (Ibid., p.20).

In a Brooklyn’s passport office he knew an official about 50 years old who made 1800 dollars per year but lost much more in gambling and races.(Ibid., p.21).

Chekisty wanted to work with the Brooklyn clerk directly. Jacob Golos talked with him about it but he categorically refused and even threatened “Sound” what, as the station reported to the Center, “in the language of these people means pretty real things”. (File 70994 p.26).

Golos went to Moscow every year, as a rule, to the celebrations of the October socialist revolution in a delegation of American communists. In fall of 1935 he arranged with the Soviet authorities the removal of his wife and son to the USSR: “Sound” wanted very much that his son studied in a Soviet school.(Ibid., p.30).

<p. 141>

p. 36 In the spring of 1937 the NKVD received materials from Morris in which Sound figures as an object of special surveillance, but through the Comintern line.                                             Morris

But it was too late: in spring of 1937 chekisty got from a Justice department official “Maurice” materials of the FBI in which Golos was mentioned as an object of a special observation but still only as “a Comintern agent”.(Ibid.,p.36).

p. 48 “Nikolay” to C. (May 1937)

“Re Sound. Again some kind of nonsense. Sound has been known to our department for 7 years. Many people knew this source before Ten’s arrival and no one had any doubts about his exceptional devotion to us. (After all, it’s no secret that Sound is an old fellowcountryman with the local organization.) But now Ten appears, starts some kind of review of people and work (neither one has anything to do with him), writes you about this and you, instead of putting him in his place, also start to “doubt” and ask questions: “Who is Sound?” This would be funny if it didn’t simultaneously show that you really don’t know the people, even those who have a long record of contact with us.

In May,1937 the station chief Peter Gutzeit wrote to the Center:

“About Sound. It’s a rubbish again. Sound has been known to our organization for seven years. Many people have known this source before Tan’s arrival and nobody had suspitions about his exceptionall devotion to us. (It is not a secret that Sound is an old compatriot of the local organization.) But Tan appears and begins a revision of people and operations (neither bears any relation to him), writes you about it and you, instead of putting him in his place, also begin to “doubt” and put questions: “Who is Sound?” It would be ridiculous if it didn’t simultaneously reveal that you really don’t know people even those who have a long connection with us.”(Ibid., p.48).

p. 49 Letter to “Nikolay” dated 14.5.37

“We never asked you who Sound is. His fellowcountryman activities are known to us just as they are to you. We asked your opinion about Sound as of today. We must have your current opinion about agents and we will ask for it at certain intervals, because the very fact that an agent has worked with us for many years, along with his fellowcountryman work, doesn’t give us a guarantee against betrayal and under no circumstances provide grounds for complacency merely on the basis that the source has worked for us for a long time and “everything has been fine.” We formally have the necessary data about “Sound,” but in substance we are missing specifically your evaluation of him. As a result of the suspicions raised by Ten, even though in your view they are unfounded, we were all the more duty-bound to ask the station chief for his opinion on the source.

The fact that “Sound” is a prominent functionary of the organization doesn’t free us from paying careful attention to him as to every person who works with us or from responsibility for him.

p. 50 For details of the illegal crossing of the Amer.-Canadian border, see the “Trill” file (No. 7164).

The Center answered:

“We never asked you who Sound is. His compatriot activities are known to us as well as to you. We asked your today’s opinion about Sound. We must have and will ask in certain periods of time your opinion about agents for the current moment for the fact of an agent’s many-years work with us as well as his compatriot work don’t give us a garantee from betrayal and by no means give reasons for complacency only on the ground that the source has been working for us for a long time and “everything was all right”. We have necessary formal data about Sound but we lack just your reference. We were obliged to address the station chief with an inquiry of his opinion about the source especially in connection with Tan’s suspicions though, in our opinion, groundless.

The fact that Sound is a big functionary of the organization doesn’t save us from meticulous attention to him, as to any person working with us, and from responsibility for him”.(Ibid.,p.49).

p. 51 Based on Morris’s materials from the Department of Justice: Sound is working on sending US citizens, supporters of the Republican govt., to Spain. The Justice Department knows that the recruitment is taking place with the participation of the CP USA, and passports are being processed with Sound’s participation. Reference is made to the fact that Sound is closely associated with the radical movement and he must know who is covering the expenses. 3.6.37

The Justice department knew that Golos was busy with sending Americans to Spain whose recruitement was carried out with the participation of the CPUS. Golos was making documents for them. The materials said that he was closely connected with the radical movement and that he must know who covered the volonteers’ travelling expenses.(Ibid.,p.51).

p. 11 World Tourist — 175 Fifth Avenue, NY

???

<p. 142>

p. 71 In November 1937 Sound was in Moscow. Was received by Slutsky and got instructions on future work. Nikolay was present.

p. 72 Password for contact with Sound arranged in M.: “Regards from Liza” — “How is Igor?” (response)

p. 76 Sound lived in the Metropol. His phone conversations were tapped.

The most important arrival to Moscow for “Sound” took place in November, 1937 when he was received by Abram Slutsky in the presence of the New York station chief Peter Gutzeit. (Ibid.,p.71).

p. 80 Norma is doing a passport through Sound. She plans to leave for London in March. (2.2.38)                                  Norma

p. 81 Sound suggested that fictitious marriages be used. Young Amer. women visit the USSR, get married, come back and demand permission at the State Dept. for entry by their husbands. (1.3.38)

p. 82 The center agreed. It requested that we send in candidacies — detailed biographies and evaluations.

p. 83 Slutsky personally instructed Sound to pick out reliable sailors in Amer. ports on various lines. Sound said he knows Communists on t., Germ. and other ships.

p. 86 Norma received a passport in Toronto. Sound got her in touch with the organizational secretary of the Canadian Communist Party. (Detailed account on p. 90.)

At the same time Jacob Golos proposed the NKVD to use fictitious marriages for acquirement of American passports. American girls should go to the USSR to marry chekisty, then return to the U.S. and demand from the State department a permission for entry for their husbands. Lubyanka liked the idea. “Sound” was asked to sent information about future chekisty wives – detailed biographies and characteristics.(Ibid.,pp.81-82). [Sic in Vassiliev’s; Russian “kharakteristika” is   “profile” in English. – S.Ch.]

Slutsky gave Golos instructions for his further work and charged him, in particular, with finding in American ports trustworthy seamen on different shipping lines for “Jacob Serebryansky’s service”. “Sound” promised to do it saying that he knew seamen-communists from British, German and other ships.(Ibid.,pp.83,98).

The Soviet female intelligence officer “Norma”, who in 1938 became in London a courier and mistress for Donald Maclean (Costello,John and Tsarev, Oleg,pp.208-210), got her Canadian passport in Toronto with Golos’ help who introduced her to a secretary of the Canadian communist party. (File 70994 p.86).

p. 94 “Sound’s” business card has been found among the papers of one of the Amer. volunteers killed in Spain. Point out to “Sound” his failure to follow the rules of covert work, which may cause a big furor. (16.7.38)

p. 95 In 1938 Sound’s wife was accepted for Sov. citizenship.

Sound”’s activities were so wide and intensive that its traces were found even in Spain. In July,1938 the Center informed that among documents of a killed American volunteer a Jacob Golos’ business card was found, and asked to point to “Sound” to behave more carefully.(Ibid.,p.94).

p. 97 Testimony of arrestee P. Gutzeit

World Tourist belonged to the CP USA: a funding source, supplied travel documents, transported delegations to the IKKI, sent delegations to the USSR for holidays, monetary matters on the IKKI line and so forth.          Gutzeit

p. 98 In 1937 the official who was doing passports was transferred to other work. A capability was lost. In 1938 Sound got an opportunity to obtain Canadian passports through the Can. Communist Party.

+ He carried out individual episodic assignments: on the Trotskyites, “Morris.” When the station needed tested Communists for tech. work in the station, they contacted Sound. →

On the selection of sailors and dock workers — for Smith (Yasha Serebryansky’s operative).

“ “Sound” never caused any suspicions or doubts. It is typical of “Sound” that he sent his wife with their 12-year-old son to the USSR, where his son could receive a real communist education. “Sound” didn’t get a salary. However, in the period prior to my

p. 99 departure from the US “Sound’s” situation became such that he couldn’t receive a salary at his World Tourist (due to poor business and the organization’s financial condition). When I left, I ordered that    <p. 143>  Sound be given money in the range of 100-150 dollars a month.

Simultaneously Golos was heading the firm “World Tourist” which was in specific kind of tourism business making documents for CPUS and Comintern functionaries and American volunteers going to Spain to fight fascism, sending delegations to the USSR to attend October celebrations, managing Comintern money transfers, etc. (Ibid., p.97).

But, despite the fact that the Brooklyn clerk was moved to another place in 1937 and lost an opportunity to produce passports, the passport line remained the major for “Sound”. In 1938 he acquired necessary contacts in the Canadian communist party.(Ibid.,p.98).

In 1937 Jacob Golos began carrying out other tasks of the New York station. He worked on trotskyites, took part in “Maurice”’s recruitement, found trustworthy communists for technical work in the station. In particular, he found “Knocker” (later “X“) who became the most devoted agent of the Soviet intelligence. (Ibid.,p.98).

…finding in American ports trustworthy seamen on different shipping lines for “Jacob Serebryansky’s service”. “Sound” promised to do it saying that he knew seamen-communists from British, German and other ships.(Ibid.,pp.83,98).

In 1938 Peter Gutzeit was recalled to Moscow and arrested as “a people’s enemy”. At an interrogation he testified: “Sound never provoked any suspicions nor doubts. It is typical for Sound that he sent his wife with the 12-years old son to the USSR in order his son could get a real communist education. Sound didn’t get salary. However for the recent time before my departure from the U.S. Sound was in a situation that he coudn’t get salary in “The World Tourist” where he worked (because of a bad business and financial situation of the organization). Departing I gave instructions to give Sound money within the limits of 100-150 dollars a month.”(Ibid.,pp.98-99). Soon Peter Gutzeit was executed.

p. 101 Memorandum on Sound without a date or author.

“ “Sound” makes an impression as a highly honest person. His personal file contains only one negative comment about Sound, and that is Ten’s view that Sound is not candid. Ten is an enemy of the people, and his suspicion doesn’t say anything, all the more so since he doesn’t support it with anything. What speaks in Sound’s favor is that he sent his wife and 14-yearold son to the USSR for permanent residence.”

[Sound’s wife is Siliya Samoylovna Golos, born in 1893 in [p. 102]Vilno, member of the CP USA, a seamstress. Accepted for USSR citizenship 10.12.37.

Objections to the use of Sound may be of the following nature:

1) Sound is a prominent figure in the Communist Party

2) Works for the Committee to Aid Spain.  This attracts the attention of the police.

p. 105 Background.

From May 1926 through Dec. 27 was in Kemerovo, where he worked as the business manager for Kuzbas. In Dec. 27 he moved to Moscow and worked for a newspaper publishing house, where he headed a subdepartment of technology and efficiency improvement. Was a member of the Moscow party organization.

p. 106 Siliya Samoylovna Reyzin (maiden name Ginzburg) was born in 1893 in the city of Kherson.

Jewish, US cit. In 26 came to the USSR with husband and son Samuil. In February 28 traveled to US to visit relatives.

A real battle for Jacob Golos was unfolding at Lubyanka. It was a battle on paper but the stake was a life. One of his well-wishers composed a memo on him: “Sound makes an impression of a very honest man. In his personal file there is only one negative reference about Sound, this is Tan’s opinion that Sound is not candid. Tan is a people’s enemy and his suspicion doesn’t tell anything the more so as he doesn’t corroborate it. The fact that Sound sent his wife and 14-years old_ son to the permanent residence in the USSR speaks in his favour.”(Ibid.,p.101).

Sylia Samoylovna Raisin (maiden name Guinzburg) was born in 1893 in Herson (according to other data, in Vilno). She was an American citizen too and in 1926 together with her husband and son came to the Soviet Union. Yet, they returned to the U.S. earlier than Golos – in February,1928. Having arrived to the USSR for the second time in 1936 they applied for the Soviet citizenship which they got in December,1937.(Ibid.,pp.101-102,106).

The memo’s author proposed to stop working with Jacob Golos but by weighty reasons: he was a notable CPUS functionary, worked in the Committee for help to Spain and therefore was under permanent observation of the American authorities. (Ibid.,p.102).

[from p. 105]

In 1926 he comes to the USSR. Since May, 1926 to December,1927 he worked as a manager in Kuzbass (Kemerovo), and later in a newspaper publishing house in Moscow. At the time he was a member of the All-Union Communist Party (VKP(b) by permission of the CPUS Central Committee.

[See above – archival pp. 101-102, 105 -- S.Ch.]

p. 112 In 1937 Siliya Golos worked for the Moscow News, then didn’t work anywhere for a long time. Later took training courses for employees of an agric. exhibition. (31.07.39)

Sylia worked in the newspaper “Moscow News”, then was jobless, and later joined the courses for preparation of employees for the All-Union agricultural exhibition.(Ibid.,p.112).

p. 114 Arrestee Durmashkin (executed in 1938 for counterrev. Trotskyite activities and espionage for Germany): Golos sent Trotskyites (starting in 29) and Mensheviks (starting in 1920) to the USSR. (3.09.39)

In 1938 Ilya Durmashkin was executed for espionage on behalf of Germany and for counter-revolutionary trotskyite activities.(Ibid., p.114).

p. 115 Gennady reported that on 20.10.39 five agents appeared at World Tourist with a warrant to confiscate all documents and a subpoena to appear immediately before a Grand Jury.

p. 120 Memorandum on Sound (prepared by P. Pshenichny): 9.9.39

Cites “Ten’s” charge of insincerity: Sound doesn’t say how he obtains documents. But there is no mention that “Ten” is an enemy of the people. On the other hand — Gutzeit’s letter of May 37, where G. writes about Sound as a dedicated Communist, “thereby muting the suspicions about Sound that had cropped up in the center. The defense of “Sound” by the enemy Gutzeit,  <p. 144>  I think, also entitles one to think that “Sound” is not our man. During “Sound’s” time in Moscow Slutsky received him in Gutzeit’s presence. I think he probably received an assignment of a counterrevolutionary nature.”

p. 121 “ “Sound” was an object of interest for the enemies Slutsky, especially Passov, Shpigelglaz, Grafpen, Kamensky, Sobol, Gutzeit.”

p. 124 “An investigation conducted in early September 1939 revealed that Sound joined the Communist Party as a Menshevik in order to subvert the party from within, that he has been associated until recently with Cannon (one of the leaders of the Amer. Trotskyites, who is personally connected to Trotsky), Chertova (her real name is Sara Weber, who was Trotsky’s secretary), managed through I. L. Durmashkin (sentenced to the supreme penalty in 1938) the Trotskyite organization at Amtorg and sent Trotskyites and SRs to the Sov. Union for counterrevolutionary work (from I. L. Durmashkin’s testimony).

And in September,1939 a new memo on Jacob Golos was composed by a Center’s operative. It contained an accusation of insincerity by “Tan” but there was no mentioning that “Tan” turned out “a people’s enemy”. On the other hand, Peter Gutzeit’s letter of May,1937 (see above) was cited where he characterized Golos as “a devoted communist” “suppressing this way the Center’s suspicions about Sound. I think that the defense of Sound by the enemy Gutzeit also gives a right to think that Sound is not our man. During Sound’s sojourn in Moscow he was received by Slutsky in Gutzeit’s presence. I think he must have got a task of a counter-revolutionary character.” (Ibid.,p.120).

Liveit-Levit accused Golos of not telling him names of people through whom he was acquiring American passports. (Ibid.,p.120). However “Tan” found himself in a slaughter-house he wanted to push Golos to. The “Sound”’s well-wisher used it, logically pointing out that being “a people’s enemy”, “Tan” was unable to tell truth. Yet, the battle for Jacob Golos’ life was not over.

Jacob Golos’ guilt was also that “enemies Slutsky, especially Passov, Shpigelglas, Graphpen, Kaminsky, Sobol, Gutzeit were interested in him”.(Ibid.,p.121).

Further the memo said: “In the process of verification carried out at the beginning of September,1939 it was unmasked that Sound joined the communist party as a Menshevik in order to undermine the party from inside, that until recently he has been connected with Canon (one of the leaders of American trotskyites personally connected with Trotsky), Chertova (her real name is Veber Sara) who was Trotsky’s secretary, and through Durmashkin I.L. (condemned to capital punishment in 1938) directed a trotskyite organization in Amtorg, transferred to the Soviet Union trotskyites and essery for counter-revolutionary work (from testimonies of Durmashkin I.L.).

In December 1937 Slutsky summoned “Sound” for a discussion, which was attended by the now-convicted Gutzeit.

They also sent his wife Silvya Solomonovna Golos to the Union and she was accepted for Sov. citizenship. She is currently being investigated by Department 2 of the GUGB for an association with the Trotskyite Gladkov, who during the period 1928-1932 was in the Trotskyite organization of Amtorg.

Based on the foregoing, “Sound” must not be left in the rosters of US agents under any circumstances. Since “Sound” [p. 125]  knows a great deal about the station’s work, I would deem it advisable to bring him to the Soviet Union and arrest him.

State Security Lieut. P. Pshenichny

Dep. head of Section 10 of Department 5 14.09.39

In December,1937 Slutsky summoned Sound for a conversation at which now condemned Gutzeit was present.

His wife Golos Silvia_ Solomonovna was transferred by them to the Union and admitted to the Soviet citizenship. Now she is being cultivated by the 2 department of the GUGB for connection with trotskyite Gladkov who in the period of 1928-1932 was a member of the trotskyite organization of Amtorg.

In connection with the stated above Sound may remain in the list of agents in the U.S. by no means. As Sound knows very much about the station’s work I would consider expedient to bring him to the Soviet Union and arrest.” (Ibid.,pp.124-125).

Background on Golos from the IKKI

“Jacob Golos is a member of the CP USA.

Born 30 April 1890 in Russia. Ethnic background Jewish. Citizenship US. Worker. Gradeschool education. Knows English and Russian. Member of the US Communist Party since 1919.

Joined the Communist Party through the left wing of the Socialist Party.

In the Communist Party was a member of the Russian Bureau of the CC of the CP USA. Party functionary since 1923. Was a district party organizer in Detroit for 2 years. Did work as secretary of the society Technical Aid to Soviet Russia and was business manager for Novy Mir.

It is obvious from a letter in Golos’s personal file from the representative of the CC of the CPUSA to the IKKI dated 9 June 1926 (the representative’s name is not specified) that from 1904 through 1908 Golos belonged to the Russian Social-Democratic Party. For two years he was in exile in Siberia, from where he fled to Japan, and then to China. From China he emigrated to the US.

From 1915 through 1919 he was a member of the Socialist Party USA, belonging to its left wing. Was one of the founders of the CP USA.

<Notebook p. 145>

A Comintern memo, composed in September, 1939 by the NKVD request, said about him: “Golos Jacob – member of the CPUS. Born on April 30,1890 in Russia. Jewish by nationality. U.S. subject. Worker. The lower education. Knows English and Russian.”(File 70994p.127).

It is known from NKVD documents that Yacov Naumovich Golos (also Raisin and Tassin) was born in Ekaterinoslavl. In 1907 he headed a clandestine Bolshevik printing-house, was arrested, sent to Siberia where he spent two years. He escaped to Japan, then to China, and in 1910 he arrived to America.(Ibid.,pp.7,127). Since 1915 to 1919 Golos was a member of the U.S.socialist party belonging to its left wing. He was among organizers of the U.S. communist party and was a member of its Russian bureau. In 1923 Golos became a party functionary. For two years he was a district organizer in Detroit, then the secretary of the society for technical assistence to the Soviet Russia and manager of “The New World”. For participation in strikes Tassin (it’s his genuine name) was arrested and spent four months in a Californian prison.

In 1926 he comes to the USSR. Since May, 1926 to December,1927 he worked as a manager in Kuzbass (Kemerovo), and later in a newspaper publishing house in Moscow. At the time he was a member of the All-Union Communist Party (VKP(b)) by permission of the CPUS Central Committee. (Ibid.,pp.105,127-128).

In 1929 Golos returned to the U.S. (Ibid.,p.127).

p. 130 [Trachtenberg is a member of the CC of the CP USA, treasurer of World Tourist.]

Gennady to C. — 21.10.39

[Crook was asked to find out which Sov. cits. are being investigated by Amer. intel. He said that the Justice Dept. only has a file on “Sound.”]

[We suggested to Sound because of the investigation that he leave, but he refused on the pretext that the CP leadership pursues a line of “not running away and not being afraid.”

Sound’s only contact is Clever Girl. We are already taking her over.]

“Based on what has happened, a fundamental decision must be made regarding the question whether “Sound” should take off immediately without appearing before the Grand Jury, or not do that: it’s already late for running away, but it’s possible. His disappearance will cause harm to the fellowcountrymen.”

[A question arises regarding the safety of Harry, who is in contact with Sound. His affairs have for the most part been prepared to be turned over.]

Harry —G.L. Rabinovich

As early as in fall of 1939 chekisty concocted an idea to bring “Sound” out of the country. “In connection with what happened it is necessary to decide in principle the question whether “Sound” should run away immediately without going to the Grand Jury or we shouldn’t do this: it is late to run away but possible. His desappearance will inflict damage to the compatriots”, Gaik Ovakimyan wrote to the Center on October 21.(File 70994 p.130).

Jacob Golos himself didn’t like the idea as the party’s leadership had a policy “not to run nor fear”.(Ibid.)

p. 131 C. to Gennady 23.10.39

Don’t take any measures regarding Sound. Only take an interest in how this whole affair will turn out.

p. 138 [Gennady fears that the authorities will determine from the books that money was

transferred from Moscow to World Tourist in the amount of 54228 dollars from May 37 through July 38.]

Lubyanka responded to the station chief that he shouldn’t take any moves with regard to “Sound” but only follow the development of the events. (Ibid.,p.131).

p. 141 Report by Harry in Dec. 1939

A total of 500-600 meetings with Sound in two years (Harry’s Second Posting). The Amer. station’s principal agent for 10 years. Trotskyites, the selection and checking of people for intel. work, passports, the establishment of covers, the settlement of problems with the leadership of the CP USA, individual complex assignments like the sending of Gerald Rubin to Calif., the proceeds from “Island of Tears” by our underground agent (“Martinez” p. 241) and so forth. Sometimes 3-4 meetings a day.

p. 142 For purposes of our work he has fizzled for a long time to come. We gave him a courier — our source “Adam.” For contact with Gennady.

Adam — think she was Browder’s 1^st wife

In December, 1939 G. Rabinovich (“Harry”) wrote in his report that in 1938-1939 he met “Sound” 500-600 times sometimes having two or three meetings a day. (Ibid.,pp.141,241). According to G.Rabinovich, “Sound” “for a long period of time is burnt for our work”.

[By 1938 "Sound" became the main assistent to the New York station, in fact, an "illegal" station chief.] Besides missions stated above he was responsible for maintaining a permanent political contact with the CPUS and was busy with saving from “Tears’ Island” of an arrested “illegal” “Martinez”.

Nonetheless, after his departure from the U.S. the station chief Gaik Ovakimyan began working with Golos and a courier between them was Eva Guetsov “Adam”).(Ibid.,p.142).

<p. 146>

p. 146   On 9 Jan. 1940 Gennady reported that Browder objects to Sound’s fleeing. Gennady believes that Sound will agree if we insist, and it is essential for him to flee. We replied that it is essential to do what the fellowcountryman leadership thinks.

Evidently, the idea about Golos’ escape was being constantly discussed. On January 9,1940 Ovakimyan informed Lubyanka that Earl Browder was opposed to the escape but, if to press on “Sound”, he would agree to leave even without permission. The Center answered that the station should act in accordance with the “compatriots”‘ leadership’s wishes. (Ibid., p.146).

p. 155

On 5 March 1940 People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs Beria reported to Stalin, Molotov and Voroshilov on the beginning of the trial of World Tourist.

“The resident of the USSR NKVD in New York has reported that the trial of the case of “World Tourist” (an American travel office) on a charges of military espionage for foreign states and violation of the law on registration begins on 5.III of this year.

This office was used at one time by the Comintern to send money to the American Communist Party.

Golos, the manager of World Tourist; Trachtenberg, the treasurer of World Tourist; Brodsky, a Communist Party attorney, and others have been summoned to the trial.”

[Next come the names of Sov. cits., who received subpoenas.]

In 1939 the American authorities started an investigation of Jacob Golos and “The World Tourist”. On March 5,1940 Lavrenty Beria, people’s commissar for internal affairs, reported to the top troika – Stalin, Molotov and Voroshilov: “The station chief of the NKVD of the USSR in New York communicated that on March 5 of the current year trial hearings of the case of “The World Tourist” (an American tourist office) accused of military espionage on behalf of foreign states and of violation of the registration law are starting.

At one time the mentioned office was being used by Comintern for transferring money for the American communist party.

Golos – manager of “The World Tourist”, Trachtenberg – treasurer of “The World Tourist”, Brodsky – lawyer of the communist party and others were summoned to the trial.” (Ibid.,p.155).

<pp. 158-159, 161>

On April 22,1938 Peter Gutzeit informed Volodarsky that he wanted to send him to Mexico to organize bugging of Leon Trotsky’s telephones.(File 32428 p.158).

To the next meeting which was to take place on April 26 “Brit” didn’t come.(Ibid.,p.159). He disappeared with materials of the source “Maurice” who was controlled by Volodarsky and passed him a report of the Justice department about cultivation of an espionage organization on the U.S. territory. (Ibid., p.161).

p. 161 On 24.03.40 Gennady reported that in the trial that took place on 15 March in Wash. Sound pleaded guilty to violating the law on registration (since he had received money from Intourist for advertising) and received a suspended sentence of 4 months to a year and a fine of 1000 dollars. He is required to report to the judge in Wash. once a month on his whereabouts.

On March 15,1940 “Sound” pleaded guilty of the violation of the registration law as he was receiving money from the Soviet “Intourist” for advertisement, and was put on probation for the term from four months to one year and a fine of 1000 dollars. He was obliged to inform a judge in Washington about his where-abouts every month.(Ibid.,p.161).

p. 171 Excerpt from “Luka’s” letter of 20.4.40.

[“Sound” and “Informer” are an Archimedes’ point for Gennady.]

“If anything were to happen to them, much of what has been created would fall apart. There is a view among certain operatives (Igor) that Sound is the de facto station chief in the US. He supplies people for all sorts of services and assignments in every area of work. There is talk in the station that, according to information that was received at one time, Amer. intelligence has Sound on file as a major NKVD agent. No one, however, attaches serious significance to this information. Various arguments are built up to logically prove the opposite. This is attributable to the fear of losing Sound. I think it would be advisable to deactivate him for six months while preparing a replacement for him. In my view, his importance in our cause is such that, given the aforementioned data, and even without those data, his presence in the station becomes dangerous to the cause.

Just during the preparation of the trial in the case of “W.T.” G. suggested I contact him and do some work with him. I brought up arguments against this and refused. I was sure that he had tails relentlessly dogging his heels, provided he himself was really honest in  <Notebook, p. 147> our work.

In April,1940  Pastelnyak wrote about them to Lubyanka:

“If something happens to them – much of that was created will be reduced to ashes. There is an opinion among some operatives (Igor) that a virtual station chief in the U.S. is Sound. He provides people for different kinds of services and missions in all the fields of the work.

Conversations are being held in the station that Sound, according to data which were received in its time, is on the books of the American intelligence_ as a major NKVD agent. However nobody pays attention to these data. Different reasons are being built in order to prove logically the opposite. It is explained by fear to loose Sound. It seems to me that it would be expedient to put him on conservation for half a year, having prepared a substitute for him. In my opinion, his meaning for our business is that due to the mentioned data his presence in the station becomes dangerous for the business.

Exactly during the preparation of the trial on the case of “The World Tourist” Guennady proposed me to contact him and work with him. I gave him reasons against it and refused. I was sure that he was constantly followed by sleuthes if only he himself is really honest in our work.”(File 70994 p.171).

It is difficult to say what reasons Pastelnyak had not to trust Golos but with regard to “sleuthes” he was right.

p. 173 On 24.08.40 Gennady reported that an attempt to obtain permission for Sound to leave the US for the USSR had ended for now in failure. (Apparently on the part of the CP USA.)

“J. Raisin. 1123 Broadway, room 607, New York. Mother’s condition worse. You must come at once. Son.”

Cable sent on 26.08.40.

Ovakimyan asked Lubyanka to send the following telegram:

“J.Raisin.1123 Broadway, room 607, New York. Mother’s condition worse. You must come at once. Son.”_ It was sent on August 26,1940. (Ibid.,p.173).

p. 174 Gennady to C 30.6.40

“Sound” has learned from acquaintances who have come in from M. that his wife is supposedly seriously ill with tuberculosis. Sound has requested that she be provided with care and sent to a sanatorium.

Reply to Gennady 2.7.40:

Wife was ill with flu, there are complications. Has been moved to a dacha. She and son ask that he come to the Union. The departure can be explained to the CP on the grounds the wife is ill.

p. 175 In July 1940 the NKVD investigated whether Tasin, a.k.a. Rasin-Golos, was a provocateur during his party work in Russia.

p. 181 Ilya Lvovich Durmashkin 10.7.38 — testimony

Member of the RSDRP (Mensheviks) since 1905, member of the Amer. CP since 1922, USSR cit., until arrest was a researcher at the Research Inst. of the Printing Industry. Arrested on 19.1.38.

Confessed: 1) was an agent of the tsarist okhranka and gave up active members of the RSDRP; 2) on assignment by the Mensheviks in 1920 infiltrated the Communist Party to conduct subversive work; 3) in 1926 became a Trotskyite and did work aimed at overthrowing Soviet rule; 4) German spy since 1927.

p. 182 Recruited in 1927 in NY by Pinkus, the station chief of German intelligence and owner of a private information bureau on agric. matters.

Testified that he joined the CP USA in 1923. After the Oct. Rev., in the summer of 1918, the Amer. public raised the question of recognizing Sov. Russia. The Russian section of the RSDRP (Mensheviks) in NY, after merging with the local SR organization, began to conduct active propaganda through the press and by sending cables and reps. to Pres. Wilson asking him not to extend recognition but to provide assistance to the Whites. In 19, when the CPA began to take shape, the Russian Mensheviks and the SRs changed tactics. Some ostensibly defected to the Bolsheviks and began a struggle to demoralize the ACP. They captured commanding heights in the Russian section of the ACP and in the society Technical Assistance for Sov. Russia in NY. Golos, a prominent Menshevik, was the head of the Russian section of the ACP.

They sent emissaries to the USSR, including Vaynshteyn, a former member of the RSDRP (Men.), who until 1915 was editor of a commercial Russian mag. in NY, and then was a staff member of the Menshevik organ  <Notebook p. 148>  Novy Mir there. Came to the USSR in 1922 and worked for the NKID in Moscow.

p. 188 Met Pinkus through Golos in 1923. Golos was the secretary of the society Technical Aid for Sov. Russia.

On January 19,1938 in Moscow Ilya Lvovich Durmashkin, an employee of the scientific institute of polygraphic industry, was arrested. At an interrogation he admitted that:

1. he was an agent of tzarist Okhranka_ and exposed active members of the RSDRP (Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party); 2. on the instructions of Mensheviks_ he penetrated into the American communist party for saboteur work; 3. since 1926 he has been a trotskyite and has worked actively for overthrow of the Soviet power; 4. since 1927 he has been a German spy. (Ibid., p.181).

Ilya Durmashkin emigrated to America before the October revolution. In 1923 he joined the U.S.communist party. Later he returned and got the Soviet citizenship.

According to records of his interrogations at Lubyanka the history of the American communist movement looks as follows: in summer of 1918 the American public opinion raised a question of diplomatic recognition of the Soviet Russia. The Russian section of RSDRP (Mensheviky) in New York merged with local Socialists-Revolutionaries (essery). Together they unfolded an active propaganda through the press and by sending telegrams and their representatives to president Wilson in order to convince the U.S. administration not to recognize the Soviets but to help the White Guard. In 1919 when the communist party was being organized Russian Mensheviky and Essery changed their tactics. Some went to the Bolsheviky’s part in order to corrode the communist party from inside. They took leading positions in the Russian section of the communist party and in the society “Technical assistence to the Soviet Russia”. Jacob Golos, notable Menshevik, was one of them. He sent trotskyites and Mensheviks to Russia allegedly in order to help the young Soviet republic.(Ibid.,p.182).

For the German intelligence service Durmashkin was allegedly recruited by one Pinkus to whom he was introduced by Jacob Golos in 1923.(Ibid., p.188).

p. 191 On 11.07.40 Gennady reported that So. said he was ready to go home, since the C. was proposing it. He doesn’t think he can return to the US. He will speak with the Boss. He asks to be told the exact diagnosis of his wife’s illness. Gennady speaks out in favor of leaving So. in place until the fall, unless his wife’s condition is very dangerous, since there is no certainty of a successful illegal departure + So. is carrying out a number of important assignments of ours.

p. 195 Background

Grigory Isakovich Vaynshteyn, born 1880, city of Vilno, in the USSR since 1921, Menshevik, worked for the NKID as asst. mgr. of the Department on the West, arrested 23.8.39, case was sent to the mil. collegium.

p. 196 On 12.07.40 word was sent to Gennady that there was nothing terribly wrong with the wife, but the family asks that So. come. C. doesn’t object, instructions have been issued through the Comintern line regarding the necessity for So. to come.

p. 235 Memorandum on So.

“An investigation of the persons mentioned in Durmashkin’s testimony who were associated with “Sound,” undertaken for the purpose of determining the degree of veracity of the testimony, affords every reason to assert that Durmashkin’s testimony on “So.” is corroborated. For example, all of the people mentioned indeed were or are as Durmashkin described them. Durmashkin testified that Golos and other Trotskyites at various times sent a number of persons to the USSR to conduct subversive work.” [They proved to be Trotskyites, Brit. and Germ. spies.]

p. 236 “On the basis of all of the aforementioned materials it is urgently imperative to isolate “So.” from all of the station’s affairs and to recall him immediately to the Union. For “So.” to stay any longer in the US jeopardizes all of our work just because of the absolutely impermissible situation that he knows in effect more than the station chief.”

19 July 1940

At the same time, in July,1940 another memo was composed: “The verification of persons connected with Sound and mentioned in Durmashkin’s testimonies, carried out in order to establish a degree of testimonies’ truthfulness, gives all grounds to assert that Durmashkin’s testimonies about Sound are corroborated. Thus, all the mentioned persons really were or are those how they were described by Durmashkin. Durmashkin testified that a number of persons in different times had been sent by Golos and other trotskyites to the USSR for saboteur work.”(File 70994,p.235).

Further there was a list of those persons who had turned out trotskyites, English and German spies. “On the grounds of all mentioned materials it is necessary to isolate Sound urgently from all the station’s affairs and to recall him immediately to the Union. Futher Sound’s sojourn in the U.S. endangers all our work due to an absolutely inadmissible situation that in fact he knows more than the station chief”. (Ibid.,p.236).

p. 239 Golos worked in Kemerovo as business manager of Kuzbas from May 1926 through Dec. 1927.

p. 257 “Smith” is a former station chief on the line of “Yasha’s” special group. He refused to return to the USSR. (15.08.40.)

Chivin (p. 257)

In 1930 in New York through a political refugee from tsarist Russia Jacob Pokrovsky Jacob Golos got acquainted with the Soviet “illegal” Chivin (“Smith”) who was a station chief of the OGPU special operations group headed by Jacob Serebryansky. (Ibid., p.20). Chivin worked in the U.S. for a long time – so long that he decided not to return to the Soviet Union.(Ibid.,p.257).

p. 272 Gennady reported on 18.9.40 that after a second application to the State Dept. for a passport and permission to leave for the USSR So. was turned down.

But Golos’ request was rejected again.(Ibid., p.272). It is possible to imagine what feelings “Sound” had towards a State department clerk who didn’t allow him to go to the Soviet Union to his wife and son. In fact, the clerk saved his life but Jacob Golos would never know about it.

[But fortunately he stayed in New York - and alive. The station was also devided with regard to Jacob Golos. Ovakimyan trusted him completely and continued using him actively in the intelligence work not paying much attention to the fact that "Sound" was under permanent observation. "Guennady" had no other option: there was a lack of operatives in the station but the mission had to be fulfilled. It could be done only through "Sound" who by that time developed a huge network of sources-communists about whom he said nothing to Ovakimyan and the latter didn't ask anything relying upon "Sound".]

p. 278 Sound was known to the Americans under the cover name of John.

<p. 149>

p. 278   Report by Stock dated 25.10.41

On 24.10 “Cavalryman” gave this account:

At 2 p.m. on 23 Oct. the editorial office of the newspaper Russky Golos received a call from an unknown person who identified himself as Major (he stated his name unintelligibly) from the Alliens Squad (a special department of the police that handles foreigners) and in a peremptory tone demanded that the manager of the newspaper Russky Golos come to the phone. Lev Grigoryevich Taran, manager of Russky Golos, came to the phone. The major asked Taran: “Where is Mr. Golos, who came from Russia illegally?” Taran replied that he doesn’t know any such person and that Major is probably mixed up since the newspaper is called Russky Golos. Then Major demanded: “Write down what you do in general.” Taran replied that they publish a newspaper and that if Major wants to know what they do, he should read the newspaper. To this Major responded: “You’re new in this business.” Taran replied that they aren’t new at all and that the newspaper has been published for 24 years already. After this reply Major became flustered and said: “Well, then we apparently made a mistake” and hung up. “Cavalryman” pointed out that the NY police doesn’t have a rank of major. Apparently he was not from the police.

p. 280 [Apparently the FBI was looking for So., since he changed his place of residence after the court sentence expired.]

On October 24,1941 the source “Cavalryman” told the operative “Shtok” that on October 23 the police called to the office of the newspaper “The Russian Voice” and demanded the newspaper’s manager Leon Taran. The policeman asked Taran: “Where is Mr.Golos who came illegally from Russia?” Taran answered that he didn’t know the man and that it must have been a mistake as the newspaper was called “Russky Golos”._ “Probably, we have mistaken”, the policeman said and hung up. (Ibid.,p.278).

The station supposed that the FBI was looking for Jacob Golos as he moved to another appartment when the probation term was over. (Ibid.,p.280).

p. 295 Personal letter from So. to Viktor dated May 1, 1943

Dear Victor:

Thank you for your kind letter which was shown to me by our mutual friend. I was glad to hear that you are interested to know how I am getting along, what I am doing, etc.

I can assure you and the rest of our friends that I am doing everything in my power –and a little more – to see that the present political situation is utilised for the benefit of our organization. I have learned to work here under all sorts of conditions – favor and unfavorable – and you can be sure that I can make the most out of the present situation.

There are, however, certain difficulties which tend to handicap our work. First, there are numerous government agencies which are at present more actively engaged than ever before in the investigation of all liberal and progressive people both in the government and outside. Whenever one of our people – or one of his contacts – is mentioned as being investigated, he is immediately shunned by all his liberal and progressive friends and it is difficult for him to carry on his work properly. Second, some of our people are confused by the present alliance between the two countries and do not see the necessity of helping us. They naively think that all we have to do to get something is to ask for it openly. Third, some of our people have been and are being drafted into the Army. This not only ends their usefulness but leaves a heavier burden on those who are left. Fourth, all of our people – especially those in the government – are working very hard on their own jobs and are limited for time. Executives in the <Notebook p. 150>  government now work a seven day week. Fifth, the general instability of all government agencies. They are created overnight and are abolished equally quickly. Even when they continue to exist, they are subject to constant reorganizations and people who work in them are shifted from job to job.

We realize that these difficulties exist and are doing our best to work in spite of them, and I can assure you that we will do our best to turn the present situation to our advantage. If you will analize the work which we have done up to the present time, I think that you will see that we are producing quite a lot. This does not mean that we cannot produce more. Personally, I am not quite satisfied with the results and am trying to improve them daily.

I appreciate very much all you have done and are doing for my family and I hope that the time and energy spent on my son will be rewarded with interest.

My best regards to all my friends. I would be very happy to hear from you often. Any suggestions which you make will be highly appreciated.

May I extend you my very best greetings on May Day.                                                     John.

Jacob Golos himself hardly understood what was happening inside his soul, so difficult the situation was. From the operational point of view the measures the station craved to undertake with regard to Golos’ network were absolutely correct but their psychological design left much to be desired. “Sound” felt offended by chekisty. Yes, they were not ready to work with his sources but Golos didn’t want to understand that he himself became the most vulnerable link of intelligence operations, that taking part in them he could expose Americans connected with him.

The letter Jacob Golos wrote to Pavel Fitin on May 1, 1943 clearly reveals that “Sound” felt himself a plenipotentiary representative of the Soviet intelligence in the U.S. and didn’t intend to step back trying to prove Lubyanka by all means that chekisty woudn’t manage without him. The letter said:

“Dear Victor:

Thank you for your kind letter which was shown to me by our mutual friend. I was glad to hear that you are interested to know how I am getting along, what I am doing, etc.

I can assure you and the rest of our friends that I am doing everything in my power – and a little more – to see that the present political situation is utilized for the benefit of our organization. I have learned to work here under all sorts of conditions – favorable and unfavorable – and you can be sure that I can make the most out of the present situation.

There are, however, certain difficulties which tend to handicap our work. First, there are numerous government agencies which are at present more actively engaged than ever before in the investigation of all liberal and progressive people both in the government and outside it. Whenever one of our people – or one of his contacts – is mentioned as being investigated, he is immediately shunned by all his liberal and progressive friends and it is difficult for him to carry on his work properly. Second, some of our people are confused by the present alliance between the two countries and do not see the necessity of helping us. They naively think that all we have to do to get something is to ask for it openly. Third, some of our people have been and are being drafted into the Army. This not only ends their usefulness but leaves a heavier burden on those who are left. Fourth, all of our people – especially those in the government – are working very hard on their own jobs and are limited for time. Executives in the government now work a seven days week. Fifth, the general instability of all government agencies. They are created overnight and are abolished equally quickly. Even when they continue to exist, they are subject to constant reorganizations and people who work in them are shifted from job to job.

We realize that these difficulties exist and are doing our best to work in spite of them, and I can assure you that we will do our best to turn the present situation to our advantage. If you will analize the work which we have done up to the present time, I think that you will see that we are producing quite a lot. This does not mean that we cannot produce more. Personally, I am not quite satisfied with the results  and am trying to improve them daily.

I appreciate very much all you have done and are doing for my family and I hope that the time and energy spent on my son will be rewarded with interest.

My best regards to all my friends. I would be very happy to hear from you often. Any suggestions which you may make will be highly appreciated.

May I extend to you my very best greetings on May Day. John”. (File 70994 pp.295).

p. 296 Dear Victor:

Thank you for your kind letter which was shown to me by our mutual friend. I was glad to hear that you are interested to know how I am getting along, how I am working, etc. I can assure you and the rest of our friends that I am doing everything in my power – and a little more – to see that the present political situation is utilized for the benefit of our organization. I have learned to work here under all sorts of conditions – favor and unfavorable – and you can be sure that I can make the most out of the present situation. There are, however, certain difficulties which tend to handicap our work. First, there are numerous government agencies which are at present more actively engaged than ever before in the investigation of all liberal and progressive people both in the government and outside.

Whenever one of our people – or one of his contacts – is mentioned as being investigated, he is immediately shunned by all his liberal and progressive friends and it is difficult

p. 297 for him to carry on his work properly. Second, some of our people are confused by the alliance between the two countries and do not see the necessity of helping us. They naively think that to get something we have to ask for it openly. Third, some of our people have been and are being drafted into the Army. This not only ends their usefulness but leaves a heavier burden on those who are left. Fourth, all of our people – especially those in the government – are working very hard on their own jobs and are limited for time. Executive agencies in the government now work a seven day week. Fifth, the general instability of all government agencies. They are created overnight and are abolished equally quickly. Even when they continue to exist, they are subject to constant reorganizations and people who work in them are shifted from  <p. 151>  job to job.

We realize that these difficulties exist and are doing our best to work in spite of them, and I can assure you that we will do our best to turn the present situation to our advantage. If you will analyze the work which we have done up to the present time, I think that you will see that we are producing quite a lot. This does not mean that we cannot produce more. Personally, I am not quite satisfied with the results and am trying to improve them daily.

I appreciate very much all you have done and are doing for my family and I hope that the time and energy spent on my son will be rewarded with interest.

My best regards to all my friends.

p. 298 I would be very happy to hear from you often. Any suggestions which you make will be highly appreciated.

May I extend you my very best greetings on May day.                                                         John.

[The text on the left is an English translation of the Russian translation of Golos’s letter to Fitin, which Vassiliev does not reproduce in his draft chapter. – S.Ch.]

p. 300 Letter from NY to C 1.9.43

[So.’s relatives write from the USSR that his wife badly needs food and clothing. She writes in her last letter that she was robbed. So. is concerned and requests help in sending her packages with food and household items. To what address could he send the packages? We could send them through the “Factory.”]

Judging by a photo, Sylia was a very attractive woman, and it is hard to believe that Golos’ attitude to her was dictated only by the political necessity. Whatever Elizabeth Bentley said, “Sound” didn’t forget about his family. In summer of 1943 he was informed that Sylia was suffering of poverty – the Soviet Union was at war with Germany, besides, she was robbed. Golos was very worried and asked the station to help him with sending food and household articles for Sylia and their son. (File 70994 p.300).

p. 304a “Chester” to “Echo” (June 1943) (+ Oppenheimer)55

p. 307 In November 1943 the head of the 1st dir. of the USSR NKGB wrote a report to USSR People’s Commissar of State Security Merkulov recommending Golos for the Order of the Red Star. No one recalls the Trotskyism and so forth.

In November, 1943 Pavel Fitin, chief of the 1 directorate of the NKGB, sent to Vsevolod Merkulov, people’s commissar for the state security, a report recommending Jacob Golos for the Red Star order. (File 70994 p.307). Nobody remembered about alleged Golos’ trotskyism, menshevism and etc.

p. 310 We didn’t recommend d him for the award because of his death.

By unknown reasons Lubyanka decided not to award him posthumously.(Ibid.,p.310).

p. 312 Memorandum dated 24.11.43

“In the time that he has worked with us Golos has distinguished himself as a party member who is committed to our cause. In his work he displays initiative, which derives from good knowledge of local conditions. He works as a talent-spotter, background-checker, group leader and recruiter. He has recruited valuable sources for our work.”

p. 313 Recommended together with Golos for the Order of the Badge of Honor was Joseph Katz, a secret staff member of the agencies of the USSR NKGB. Born 1912, a native of Lithuania, Jewish, an aircraft engineer, US cit., member of the CP USA since 1932. Recruited for work in 1937. For the fulfillment of important assignments abroad.

A memo on “Sound” said:

“During the work with us Golos showed himself as a party member devoted to our cause. Initiative in the work to what his good knowledge of local conditions contributes. Works as a talent-spotter, personal data gatherer, group controller and recruiter. Drew a number of valuable sources to our work.” (Ibid.,p.312). The memo was composed on November 24, 1943. The next day Jacob Golos died.

<p. 152>

p. 314 On 27.11.43 “Anton” reported in a cipher cable that So. died on 25.11 of a cardiac rupture

p. 315 Maxim reported the same thing on the same day.

p. 317 Anton 1.12.43:

Clever Girl reported that So. had lunch with friends, after which he came to C.G.’s apartment, felt ill and lost consciousness. C.G. emptied out his pockets, called a doctor and the police, but by the time they arrived So. was dead. After the body was sent to the hospital, C.G. was questioned for several hours by a policeman. For several years So. had had heart disease and drank despite his doctors’ prohibition.

p. 317a C.G. turned over So.’s notes to the station. Only “Mer” meets with C.G.

[The intelligence service got problems with Elizabeth Bentley immediately after the direct contact with her was established. It was Itshak Akhmerov ("Mer") who through his wife "Nelly" contacted "Ms.Wise" the first. He needed to clarify circumstances of "Sound"'s death.] At the first meeting on November 29 Bentley told him that Golos had a lunch with his friends and afterwards came to her drunk, felt bad and lost consciousness. (File 70994 p.317).

p. 318 Message from Mer.

C.G. also told Mer that So. was drinking at his friends’ house.

p. 319 So.’s company consisted of 3 people: a nominal Amer. chairman, So. and C.G. Only So. And C.G. held shares.

p. 320 C.G. agreed to continue the work, but objected to Mer meeting with Pal. Her point was that Pal won’t want to meet with our man, since his people know how to identify Russians and are afraid of them.

p. 324 Message from Mer.

On 6 Dec. C.G. reported that the two of them had lunch in the London Terrace district. When questioned by the police she also said that they had not had lunch together, since she was afraid that she would be suspected of having poisoned him.

Recently So. had not been feeling very well and was nervous about the fact that his office was not operating as efficiently as he wanted it to. He wasn’t sleeping well. When he came to C.G.’s apt., he said that he was very tired and would like to rest. He sat down in an armchair and fell asleep. C.G. was in another room when she heard him coughing and she went to him.

He was trying to take a deep breath and lost consciousness. C.G. called for an ambulance and So.’s doctor — Dr. Roth. The dr. asked that he be called after the arrival of paramedics, who pronounced So. dead. The police and the city medical examiner were called. The police conducted questioning for about 6 hours, the questions were routine, and they were very polite.

p. 325 “So.” had previously told her that if anything happened to him she should immediately destroy the sealed envelope in his safe. At 4 a.m. she went to the office and removed the envelope without looking at its contents and destroyed it. She doesn’t know what was in the envelope.

She turned over to Mer the cash receipts from probationers that were removed from his pockets after his death, about turned over about 11,000 doll. to Browder.

The same she told the police as she feared that they would suspect her of poisoning Golos. However on December 6 “Ms.Wise” confessed to “Mer” that they had a lunch together in the restaurant “London Terrace”. (Ibid.,p.324).

Jacob Golos, understanding seriousness of his illness, prevented Bentley beforehand that, if something happened to him, she had to destroy immediately a sealed envelope in his safe-box. “Ms.Wise” went to the office at 4 a.m. and, without opening the envelope, destroyed it. She didn’t know what it contained.(Ibid.,p.325).

Besides, initially Bentley didn’t want to tell what sum of money which Golos was keeping she passed to Earl Browder. Later chekisty found out that it was 11 thousand dollars. (File 70994 p.325).

p. 326   Nelly met with C.G. on 19.12.43

So.’s sister said that the marriage with his wife had not been registered. The sister told C.G. that she would take his wife and son to the US and help them get settled. C.G. says that she will never be able to understand why the son doesn’t want to return to the US ←       The sister and her husband, in C.G.’s view, are typical members of the petite bourgeoisie, always thinking only about money.

< p. 153>

So.’s inheritance was being handled by his friend, the lawyer Brodsky, and his assistant Solomon Cohen. Since his wife left the US in 1936, she lost her citizenship, unless she is able to prove that since then she has been unable to come back here.

p. 327 The vice-president of World Tourist was John P. Reynolds.56 “Helmsman” recommended him for this work since he knew him to be a liberal. He was needed to gain the trust of the Dies commission. Reynolds used the same law firm as Ambassador Harriman. It was thanks only to the major’s prestige that the State Dept. told him that their company didn’t have to be registered with the State Dept. like other foreign agencies.

The major invested a certain amount in World Tourist. The task of sending out packages belonged to the major, but at “Helmsman’s” suggestion she was appointed vice-president to keep an eye on him. In 1941 the major returned to the army, but was stationed in NY. He was so busy that he never interfered in their affairs.

C.G. often had lunch with the major and his wife. The wife is from a well-known Amer. family. She is Jewish, but doesn’t admit it, and according to C.G., she is an ardent anti-Semite. The major is a 100 percent Scotsman. One gets the impression that he married for money.

After “Sound”’s death it turned out that his marriage with Sylia was not registered, therefore laywers aranging his legacy affairs got serious problems.(Ibid.,p.326).

p. 328a “X’s” report on meeting with Myrna dated 11.11.44.

Myrna agrees to cooperate. She wanted to make an admission that she had previously made to “Albert”:

She began to live with So. five years before his death. When she told Albert about this, he said that this was impermissible →       She didn’t get into all the details with him since she felt guilty. She loved So. very much and felt that he had always done the right thing. A few months before he died he told her that he had decided to resign, he wanted her to do the same, then they would go off somewhere and register their marriage. He had married a woman who was now in the USSR only to fulfill passport formalities, and wasn’t bound by anything. M. learned of the wife and son by accident only 3 years after they met. M. refused to resign and asked So. not to do it. On the day of So.’s death they discussed this a great deal. So. was supposed to make a final decision the next day. M. believes this thought

p. 328b    hastened So.’s death.

So. had said a lot of negative things to her about our people lately:

1. in recent years a completely new breed of young people with the lowest status have been sent. He wanted to travel to the USSR and make complaints;

2. He once traveled to Wash., where he saw the “big boss,” and he realized that nothing could be changed;

3. he believed that all of the work and people had degenerated into a “gang of cutthroats.”

M. said she had seen a note that So. had in which we had asked the following: what happened to the young woman who was working for the Italian Information Bureau? She was astonished and decided that So. hadn’t reported anything about her. When she asked So. about this, he said that he had reported, and this attested once again to our lack of training. He had reported

<p. 154>

on her and her fine work. During this period she began to become disillusioned with So..

She expressed surprise that no one had ever asked her to write her biography, even though she had been instructed to get biographies from everyone. She agreed to write her biography.

p. 328c   She asked whether X considered suitable for the work and added that she would try to do everything to improve it, since she felt that it was her life’s purpose.

The typical feature of Jacob Golos’ work with the New York station was that he didn’t tell the operatives names and personal data of his sources and assistents. Once Bentley saw on Golos’ desk a note with the station’s question: what happened to the girl who worked in the Italian information bureau? Naturally, Elizabeth understood that the question was about her. She felt hurt that “Sound” reported to Moscow nothing about her work. When she spoke with Jacob about it he answered that he had informed and that it was an extra sign of lack of experience among young Soviet operatives.(File 70994 p.328b).

… Obviously, Jacob Golos really didn’t want Lubyanka to know about “Ms.Wise”’s work.

p. 329    On 14.12.44 C.G. met with Nelly:

So. was living in the Madison Hotel. She found a lot of letters in his safe in Russian and English. She destroyed everything, just as he had asked.

p. 331 So.’s sister is Mary Edelman.

p. 332 Myrna met with her only twice. She doesn’t want to do it anymore.

p. 337 Memorandum on So.

In 1945 Sima passed along FBI materials on So.. The FBI knew that So. had extensive connections in foreign consulates in the US that he was using to illegally obtain passports. All of the members of the Lincoln Brigade were sent through World Tourist.                                  Sima

338 While the FBI was working on the case of Feldman (Brit) it determined that Ovakimyan had had meetings with So.. The contact was first discovered on 18 February 1941. Frequent meetings took place until 10 March 1941. There were conversations and exchanges of packages. Subsequently Myrna was included in the investigation.

In the summer of 1941, after “Gennady’s” arrest, the Feldman case was shut down, and the FBI opened a separate investigation of So. and World Tourist.                                              Brit-Feldman

p. 339 In July 1940 “Helmsman” gave his consent to a legal departure by So.. The trick with the telegram was thought up by “Helmsman.”

So. established contact with Robert in late 1940 by arrangement with Helmsman. Soon thereafter “Pilot,” “Richard” and “Peak” were turned over to Robert as contacts through the CP line.

In late 1940, shortly after the trial of So.’s case ended, a forwarding company, “the Complex,” was established at the suggestion of So. and Helmsman with So.’s participation.

The FBI used Volodarsky for cultivation of Gaik Ovakimyan – materials on whom were concentrating in the file “Armand Lavis Feldman”. For the first time the contact between Ovakimyan and Golos was spotted on February 18, 1941. Their next meetings during which they talked and exchanged envelopes also took place under FBI surveillance.

Through Golos the counter-intelligence found Elizabeth Bentley. (Ibid., pp.338, 371).

At the end of 1940 “Sound” with the consent of Earl Browder contacted “Pal” (later “Robert“) to whom “Pilot“, “Richard” and “Pick” were passed later by the line of the CPUS.(File 70994 p.339).

This group was the main source of the political information for the New York station for the next five years.

p. 352   Memorandum on So.

“The following conclusions should be drawn about deficiencies in our work with So.:

1. Recruiting So. himself for our agent work was a mistake, because So. was known in the US as a prominent functionary of the Amer. Com. Party who had come from the USSR. This alone was enough to become a target of active investigation by the counterintel. agencies.

<p. 155>

Moreover, a number of serious warning signs of an active investigation of So. (the report from agent “Morris,” the summons of So. to court, the arrest of “Gennady,” who had contact with So. and a number of other indicators) should have been sufficient grounds to stop working with him.

2. The fact that Sound turned out to be the main linchpin of our intel. work in the US is the result of an incorrect attitude toward the principles of our work. In turning over to recruiting and all kinds of other work to So., we often blindly deferred to his authority, and were not informed about the substance of the actions he took. This subsequently led to the point where any attempt by us to check on So.’s activities to any extent or to

p. 353 study of any of his people in detail triggered vigorous resistance on his part.

3. The idea of establishing “the Complex,” in which So. and Myrna were the main participants, also proved to be a mistake. Since by its line of work the Complex came into contact with Soviet institutions abroad, Amer. counterintelligence obviously had to take an interest in it, which again jeopardized our agent So. and his agent network. In addition, the whole history of relations between Intourist and Amtorg on the one hand and the Complex on the other suggests that certain employees of Intourist and Amtorg, because of their rudeness, lack of knowledge of the work and inability to maintain proper relationships with foreigners, stirred the anger of So., Myrna and Scott, which as a rule was turned against us as the “initiators” of the establishment of the enterprise.”

Captain Chugunov

In 1945 an analysis of Jacob Golos’ intelligence activities was carried out at Lubyanka. Its result was a memo by captain Chugunov:

“The following conclusions about draw-backs of our work with Sound should be made:

1.  Drawing of Sound himself to our agent work was a mistake for Sound was known in the U.S. as a notable functionary of the American communist party arrived from the USSR. Only this was enough to get under an active cultivation by the counter-intelligence organizations. More-over, a number of serious signals about Sound’s active cultivation (information of the agent “Maurice”, Sound’s subpoena to the court, “Guennady”’s arrest who had a contact with Sound and some other data) should have served as a sufficient ground for ceasing to work with him.

2. The fact that Sound became the main pillar for our intelligence work in the U.S. is a result of a wrong attitude to principles of our work. Having entrusted the recruiting and any other work to Sound we often submitted blindly to his authority and were not aware of the essence of steps carried out by him. It led subsequently to that any our attempt to control to a degree Sound’s activities or to study in details somebody among his people provoked an energetic resistence on his part.

3.  The idea about “Kombinat“’s creation, in which Sound and Mirna took the major part, also turned out wrong. As by the character of its work “Kombinat” came into contact with Soviet institutions abroad the American counter-intelligence undoubtedly should have got interested in it what again imperilled our agent Sound and his agent network.” (Ibid., pp.352-353).

p. 367 Memorandum on the Feldman case

In late 1945 materials were obtained through agents from the Foreign Agents Registration Unit of the US Dept. of Justice (special agents’ summary reports). FBI investigation “Armand Labis Feldman” (case of the NY office of the FBI, No. 65235 No. 741A).

Feldman is I. Vl. Volodarsky, born 1903, Jewish. In 1930-32 Feldman-Brit

p. 368 was on assignment in England through the Soyuzneft line. Recruited by our station. In November 1932 was arrested for buying information from an Englishman and sentenced to 52 days in prison. The punishment was replaced with a fine of 105 pounds. After paying, Brit was released and sent to the USSR. Formally added to the OGPU cadres and sent to the US for illegal work under the name of Feldman. Beginning in 1936 he lived under Canadian passport No. 3931 in the name of Labis Feldman, which was obtained through an agent in Feb. 1936. (Possibly through So. — A.V.)57 He knew the following agents: “S/1,” “S/2,” “S/3,” “S/7,” “Morris,” “Sound,” “Vit,” “Yankee,” “Frost,” “Star,” “Gadfly.” On 25 Apr. 1938 Brit disappeared after cashing checks from his business at the bank. A search yielded no positive results.

In 1945 chekisty through the source “Sima” acquired the file of the FBI New York department # 65235 741A “Armand Lavis Feldman”. (Ibid., p.367).

This was a cover name for I.Vl.Volodarsky, Jew, born in 1903, code-name “Brit”.

In 1930-32 he worked in Britain on the line of “Soyuzneft” and was drawn to the intelligence activities by the London station. In November, 1932 for buying information from an Englishman he was arrested and convicted for 52 days of imprisonment, but later the punishment was changed to the fine of 105 pounds. When the sum was payed Volodarsky returned to the USSR.

He joined the OGPU and in the middle of 1933 was sent to the U.S. for an “illegal” work under the name Feldman. Since 1936 he lived there with the Canadian passport #3931 issued to the name Labis Feldman which was acquired in February, 1936, possibly, through “Sound”. Anyway, Volodarsky knew Jacob Golos. (Ibid., pp.367-368).

Besides, “Brit” got money for cheks of his enterprise in a bank. (File 70994 p.368).

Chekisty were looking for “Brit” for a long time without any succes, and only in 1945 they found out that Volodarsky betrayed them.

<p. 156>

p. 371 On p. 26 of report from agent Price dated 20.06.41:

On 10 Feb. 1941 Golos was seen arriving at Bentley’s apt.: Pamela Court, Apt. 62, 58 Barrow St., NY.58 It notes that B. is a high-ranking employee of the U.S. Service and Shipping Corporation (1134 Broadway, Suite 1900-02). Golos was often noticed as a visitor to this office.

Report from J. E. Prater 19.2.42

File No. 149/489, pp. 20-21.

p. 377 In June 1941 Golos was living in Room 1114 of the Hotel Walcott, 4 West 31st Street, NY.

p. 391 The following FBI agents took part in the investigation of World Tourist and “the Complex”:

W.Z. Price, J.E. Prater, George J. Starr, Hawkins, A.T. Kurtz.

p. 392 The KGB has concluded that an FBI agent was working right at World Tourist (designated as “T” (p. 395). +Milton Goodman, who was the head of “WT” before Golos — p. 373. He made 20,000 a year and was free of Russian influence. But when revenue began coming in, the Comintern became interested and implemented measures to take control of WT. Goodman was ousted, and Golos became the head.

(Annotation done in Dec. 1951.)

Besides, the firm was one of the CPUS profitable enterprises supplying money for communist activities. Before “Sound” the firm was headed by a certain Milton Goodman who later complained to FBI agents that “he was making 20 thousand a year and was free of Russian influence”. But soon Comintern got interested in “The World Tourist” and established its control on it. Goodman was sacked, and Jacob Golos was charged with managing the firm.(Ibid.,p.392).

p. 409 The name of G.’s son was Dmitry Naumovich Golos. He was the personal secretary and translator for the Indonesian ambassador to the USSR. Agent of Department 5 of the 2^nd Chief Dir. of the KGB. (1958 memorandum.)

(In the package at the end of the file: passports for So. and his wife from 1931 in the name of Isidor Vilensky and Dora.)

They stayed for ever in Moscow. Jacob’s son changed the first name and patronymic becoming Dmitry Naumovich Golos. At the end of 50’s he worked as a personal secretary and interpretor for the ambassador of Indonesia in the USSR. (Ibid.,p.409).