Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-26
Martens Connection. With Soviet Russia
He Has Beeh Spreading Propa- ganda For Recognition of Soviet Government By the United States.

New York, Nov. 25.-Ludwig c. A. K. Martens, who calls himself ambassador of the soviet government of Russia, admitted late today that he paid Dud- ley Field Malone, former collector of the port of New York. $1,0O0 on Sept. F, for help in a commercial transac- tion." He told the joint legislative committee Investigating radical activi- ties that it. was for advice in trying to arrange a $9.500000 shipment of boots, meats and chemicals to be paid for on delivery in Petrograd.
 Martens denied he knew that Malone had formed or was forming a corpora ton to do business with soviet Rus, sia, and declared that his embassy" was not specifically interested in such an organization. He did not know that Malone had been speakin9 in behalf of the soviet government of Russia" either before or after he paid him $1,000, he said, and denied that he and Malone had spoken from the same platform in Madison Square Garden here last June.
 Malone was not regular counsel for the soviet bureau. Martens said. but was employed solely as special agent in plans to buy and ship to Russia $5,000,- 900 worth of boots and $4,500,0 GOO worth of other supplies.
 
 tions volleyed at him by Attornev Gen. eral Newton that 20 per cent of his activities here are devoted to propa- ganda for recognition of the Russian soviet government by the United l States, or publicity work to impress upon the American people that the Russian soviet form of government is desirable.''
 1 Inquiries, based on the committed s announced efforts to find out of Mar 1 tens, is or is not in reality chief of the communist radicals trying to spread revolution throughout the United States, brought no definite affirmative l results today Martens admitted hav- | ing branch office in Detroit in charge of Dr. Rovin, which has been eStab- lished for the past four or five months l with small force of workers The l reason for this sub-bureau, Martens | said, was because of plans looking towards the purchase of motor cars and tractors for the soviet. He had negotiated with the Ford Motor com pany, but had not actually bought anything there. He admitted that he
 'fknew all the time: that he couldn't ship anything in large amounts to Russia.
 Martens said since April he had re- ceived about $90,000 for his use here all from the soviet government. Nc contributions had been solicited or re-
 ceived from any other source. he said Couriers brought as much as $20 900 al
 a time in secret and carried back cor
 respondence the same way. He flatly Ii refused to tell how they came an6
 went. who they were. or where they could be found. He claimed the priv i ilege accorded q recognized diplomatic representative in this. apd declined ah- il lsolutelysto produce official communsssa l tions or divulge official insstructions
 received or reports made between the
 soviet and himself.
 1 Confronted by his check seized fl
 raids made on his headquarters her. sor:e time ago. Martens admitted re
 ceipt of a Stockholm, Sweden draft fol . s4.000 which he deposited Nov 1. H, . refused to say from whom he received it or what it was for. He acknowledged f 2 s1000 check to his order, deposited
 in local bank. as "loan from Dr , Mislege of New York" He said tn,
 doctor had advanlced him s2,500, o
 which he had paid back $1 000 , Martens said he had many friend who would give him ''tens of thousand :, Eof dollars" if he wanted it. Later h
 said he could not give their names. a he meant friends of the cause of sovie
 Russia whom he had never approacFe fN' ''"-'"-- and who had not specificall offered it.