New-York tribune., 1919-12-19
Takes
Sudden Trip as
Writ Appears
Soviet Envoy Goes to Wash.
ington on ''Oficial Busi.
ness When Facing
Charges of Contempt

Official business" for the Russian
Soviet government took Ludwig C. A.
H. Martens and Santeri Nuorteva on a
hurried trip to Washington yesterday
Just as process servers were calling at
their office at 40 West Fortieth Street
10 present notices to them to appear
IN the Supreme Court to-day TO show
cause why they should not be punished
for contempt
Nrlts for the appearance of Martens
and Nuorteva, together with one for
DR.. Michael Mislig, formerly their
financial hacker, were issued on
Wednesday by Supreme Court Justice
Greenbaum on complaint of The Lusk
Legislative Committee, which asked
that they be committed to the county
jaiP until they agreed to answer the
committees questions in its investiea-
ton Of radicalism.
Although twentyfour hours had
elapsed after the threat Of q Jail COM
mitment had been made in court, the
process servers had not arrived at the
Soviet Bureaus Offices up TO noon yes
terday.
Process Servers Too Late
Meanwhile, Martens and Nuorteva.
having been Informed of the court
order, but not having been served with
q notice in person, called up Charles
Recht, their attorney and announced
they had urgent business in Washing
ton. After they were safely aboard the
train the process servers appeared at
the Office.
want to see Martens and Nuorteva,
if you please" said one Of them, with
copies Of the wri1s tucked in his pocket.
"Not IN; gone to Washington on Of
Acial business the official soviet
stenographer said.
"Be back soon (" asked the proces g
, server.
"Not for couple of days, l guess"
the stenograpner replied.
Forbidden to deliver the notices 10
any one except the principals, the proc
ess servers walked out.
Argument on the writ was TO have
been made to-day before Supreme Court
Justice Davis. According to Mr. Recht {
the argument cannot take place be-
cause the notices have not been served
Mr.. Recht, however, filed in the Appel
late Division of the Supreme Court
notice of appeal from Justice Green
baum's decision The notice was served
on Samuel A Berger. Deputy Attorney
General.
Nature of Business Secret
"WiN Mr.. Martens and Mr. Nuorteva
be back in time for the hearing ON the
notice to SHOW cause why they should
not be punished for contempt" Mr..
Recht was asked
Il think not" he replied. Mr.. Recht
would not dlvulge the nature OF the
Official business" which took Martens
TO Washington. n examinations before
the Lusk Committee the soviet envoy
had declared he had made futile at
tempts TO obtain $l53 ,0OO, 900 which was
left in the custody Of the Russian EN-
bassy when the Kerensky government
fell. He did not express any hopes of
getting that money or any part of it.
Martens has had experience in with
holding evidence desired by the Lusk
committee. He admitted in his tes-
timony that he had taken to another
state letters and documents which the
committee had SubPUnaed him TO pro
duce II is said that the committee.
in insisting on the production of all
sof Martens's papers, had information
that certain Federal officials at Wash
ingron are mentioned III some Of them
Lusk Committee Adjourns
Frequent mention had been made at
the hearings Of the names of Lincoln
Stefyens and William c.. Bullitt. who
went to Soviet Russia and were re-
ceived there as official Representatives
Of the United States. Mr. Bullitt and
Mr.. StetYens, after their trip to Rus
sia, reported to the Ame peace
delegates at Paris. Later Mr. Bull
litt testified before a Congressiona
committee that Secretary of State
Lansing had spoken disapprovingly of
the peace treaty.
The Lusk committee adjourned yes
terday, subject to the call of Senator
Clayton r. Lusk, chairman, who ar
rived from England later in the day.
Evans Clark, formerly instructor on
government at Princeton University,
and now chief Of the statistical de-
partment of the Soviet Bureau, who
was to have been heard, will be called
later.
Liberty Bonds--$SO. 500, $500, $1,000
can be bought and sold instantly
1OhM MMfu n Rrao A@rnn-AA~