The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-07
ROBINS STORY
OF BOLSHEVIKI
Takes TWO Days to Tell What He
Saw and Heard In Russia While
Member Rcd Cross
Commission.

\
mond Robins today concluded two
days Of testimony before the senate
boIsheviH Investigators with an ear
nest plea that American and allied
governments take nobodys word on
conditions in Russia, but get the
facts themselves upon which to base
i their future policy.
For two days Robins has been
battling obvious hostility of the com,
mittee in an effort to tell what he
saw and heard in Russia as mem
Der of the American Red Cross mis-
! sion.
Robins closed his testimony with
the statement that if any responsible
person contradicted him, he would
produce documents. kept secret until
now, to prove what he had said.
| Summed up. his two days testi-
mony was:
That bolshevism is the worlds
greatest menace and that America
is the only nation that can stem It's
tide
| That American and allied interven-
ton In Siberia spread the flame of
bolshevism and caused it to spread
to England, France, Canada and
even to this country.
| That armed Intervention now
would deepen and strengthen the
hold Of Lenine and Trotsky on the
Russian people.
refused, several opportunities to pre-
vent the bolsheviki from getting con-
troll.
That at the time he left Russia in
May 1918, the great majority OF the
Russian people were supporting the
bolsheviki.
| That Russia can get rid Of Lenine
and Trotsky any time the people wish
ito.
! That II commission of inquiry
finds that the bolsheviki are keeping
Russia in chaos, causing massacres
and starvation, the civilized world
/ should act, but not until 1t has all
the facts.
! Robins told the committe today a
commission of inquiry should be sent
into Russia to learn all the facts
about the situation there.
! He declaed unqualifiedly against
military Intervention till all the facts
are known. 81
| IF it is shown that chaos, anarchy
and starvation do exist in Russia to
the degree which the world has been
led to believe, then the civilized and
christian nations should act" said
Robins, "but / am against the use of
American men and arms on a basis
Of falsehood."
| American Intervention In Siberia.
Robins said, although it was intended
as cure for the evils Of bolshevism,
really strengthened and deepened the
malady.
at caused deep resentment in
Russia. British troop revolt In
England, and questionable situations
in France and Canada. 1t was
very bad way to deal with boil
! shevism."
Robins yesterday identified as the
divorced wife of Proctor, of Proctor
& Gamble, Cincinnati, a woman who
called up the American embassy In
Petrograd with story that the en-
bassy was going to be blown up.
The woman happens to be the
divorced wife Of Proctor, of Proctor
& Gamble, Cincinnati, and was at
| that particular hour in the secret
| records OF three OF the allied nations
las German agent in Russia" said
Robins.
| The alleged plot was a German
plant, Robins said. He stayed at the
embassy at night and nothing hap
pened.
| Chairman Overman asked whether
there is any way for the Russian
| people to get rid of Lenine and Trot-
| sky without revolution.
! II think any time any considerable
number of the people want to get
rid Of them, they can do it." replied
Robins.
| Senator Nelson asked whether
| Robins believed the United States
ought to recognize the Lenine.Trot-
sky government.
Not at this moment" said Rob
| ms. There ought to be careful
] investigation of the situation, and
/ If the facts show that they will be
in power in Russia for considerable
time, I'd recognize them. But it is
impossible now to tell what the facts
are
| Senator Sterling and Senator Mel
son became SO hostile towards the
witness for what they called his boil
shevist sympathies that Senator
Hiram Johnson, though not mem
Der of the committee, appealed that
Robins be allowed to answer ques-
tions without being constantly
heckled
Sterling insisted that Robins was
trying to encourage the bolshevisn
movement, and asked him whether
he didn't think that as patriotic
American he ought to condemn it.
| Robins replied that he already
condemned bolshevist methods, and
added
II am trying to tell the truth about
| it. l refuse to be put in position
of defending atrocities, but I prefer
to understand a situation rather than
| to denounce it. found more bitter
ness in the United States against
/. bolsheviki atrocities than against
bloody Monday and an the long line
Of czarist prosecutions. 1 would like
| to see both sides of this question