New-York tribune., 1919-06-21
Prof. Carasso Says Lusk
Inquiry Is Misdirected;
Fears Retributive Acts
on Americans i'm Russia
Charges Incompetence
Financial Ramifications of
Soviet Bureau Expected
To Be Uncovered Soon

gator Of the. Lusk Committee investi-
eating Bolshevism in New York, said
yesterday he was confident the finan-
clal ramifications Of the Russian soviet
headquarters in this city under the
direction Of Ludwig C. X. A. Martens
would be uncovered shortly. The bu-
reau has been reported to have re-
sources of $2OO,000,0Oo.
Senator Clayton R. Lusk, chairman
OF the committee. says all the commit
tee desires is the truth about seditious
activities on the part of any and all
agencies seeking to evade or upset. the
laws of the land, either in New York or
any other city of the state.
Professor Alessandro Carasso, Ph.D.,
OF 100 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn,
who says he has worked as an inter
prefer for the Lusk Committee, yester-
day announced his resignation, saying
the work of the committee is misji-
rected that the investigators are not
competent, and that one of the things
certain to happep is retribution on the
part of the Bolsheviki in Russia against
Americans still over there. His wife
and daughter are in Russia, he saws.
and he fears for their safety.
Crlt1cIseS Lusk and Aids
Professor Carasso says that while
he was in Petrograd he was attached
to the American Embassy; that he is
a graduate of the Universities of Mos
COW and Geneva, and that ne has spent
shevism to a fad, in which he said
many here are indulging. He criticized
Senator Lusk and his colleagues, say
ing they were ignorant of the subject
they were pursuing.
"About a month ago l was invited
by the committee to act as interpre-
ter" said he. II accepted because the
work accorded with my anti-Bol-
shevist principles. When became
colleagues 1 felt ashamed for myself,
for them and for those investing them
with authority. These were persons
=. lacking knowledge of the profound is
sues involved.
II am not opposed to the prosecu-
ton of Bolshevism; on the contrary
l am in favor of the entire suppression
of this falsehood. Residing in Russia
for a decade and being one of the
| was able to view thoroughly the
brutality which Bolshevism developed
there-robbery, murder, rape and
freedom celebrating oppression-all
these saw. None can therefore favor
With more enthusiasm than myself the
vigorous prosecution, if not destruc-
tion, of this brutal movement.
Foresees Harmful Results
~ cannot sympathize, nevertheless
with the means taken by certain pri-
vate persons under the cloak of local
legislation to combat this serious
menace.
UyNL,+ ~..,,1+. IL .,. 4L:.y. Ill, :,
achieved by the raid on the soviet
headquarters ~
mo result that will be good. Of
that l am certain. In fact, am posi-
tive this step will prove harmful to
our own interests.
"The unfortunate American citizens
who are fostering i. that Bolshevik
hell over there in R.ssia will have to
pay too dear price vi this imprudent
step. Not Martens, Hourwich or Vein
stein will be the victims, but defense
whom there will be none to intercede,
and who are completely within the grip
of the Bolsheviki. If the BolsheviN
have attained perfection in anything
it is in the fine art of retributon. No
matter what the cause, the fact re-
mains that Martens was sent here by
the de facto rulers Of Russia as their
representative. If it was not our in
tention to recognize this government, it
was incumbent upon us to refuse per-
mission for Martens to enter the coun-
try. Since the State Department was
delinquent in this respect, it's rghtful
remedy is to deport this Bolshevik en-
bassy in an official manner, and not
leave it to the clownish hands of pri-
vate individuals, who then react un-
favorably upon their fellow citizens"
No Reply to Criticism
Neither Senator Lusk nor Attorney
General Newton nor Mr. Stevenson, of
the Lusk committee, had any reply to
the criticisms of Professor Carasso. 1t
will be recalled that Santeri Nuorteva,
secretary of the Russian Soviet Re-
public, who was summoned to the City
Hall last week when the agency in the
World Tower Building was raided, said
that "they (meaning the Lusk commit
tee) will find that two can play at
that game"
When Professor Carasso was asked
about a so-called "retribution list"
containing the names Of the Lusk COM
mittee and others, which it was said
had been obtained in the raid he said
last night that he had not said that
ne had seen the list.
~ am sure there is such list, but
have not seen it," said he.
Mr. Stevenson and force of assis-
tants were busy yesterday at the St.
George Hotel going over the mass Of
letters and documents taken in the raid
last week, with the idea of returning
everything that has no direct or in
direct bearing on the quest Of the COM
mittee, which is uncovering seditious
activity. Mr. Stevenson has given spe-
cial attention to looking up the fnan-
cial connections of the Martens head
quarters, and it is understood that with
the help Of the government, he will be
able to spread upon the record on
Thursday of next week fairly full
description of the means used by the
Lenine Trotzky government in Moscow
and Pesrogrsd to forward money to
this country. The testimony on Thurs
day showed that while Mr.. Martens
had deposited about $4,000 in two
months, with which to run his agency,
his deposits were invariably in cur
rency, with nothing to indicate the
| channel used in nettinfz tha money to