Evening star., 1920-01-30
MARTENS OFFERS
TRUE. COPIES" OF
WORD SENT SOVIET
Reveals to Senate InquirerS
Some Contracts Made
With u. S. Firms.


OF all communications between him
Selt and the soviet government of
Russia was made today by Ludwig
{. A. K. Martens. agent of the or
gan1zatlon in the United States, when
consideration of the subject was re-
sumed.
Former Senator Hardwick of Geor-
gia, attorney for Mr.. Martens. made
the offer. but said that Mr.. Martens
desired some of the letters consid
cred in executive session, because
they might involve others. far be-
WICK said he meant those who as
sisted in maintaining the communi-
cation between the self-styled am
bassador and the soviet chiefs in
Russia. Chairman Moses of the COM
mittee reserved a decision as to the
executive session.
Asks Of U. s. Concerns.
Il want to take up with you the
matter of the list of 941 odd Ameri-
can business concerns with which Mr..
Martens said soviet Russia could
transact business" Chairman Moses
continued. That does not answer
our purpose We asked for a list of
those concerns which have contracts
with Martens and for the amounts
and commodities involved. You gave
us list of concerns which were will
ing to do business"
Attorney Hardwick presented i'm
mediately a statement of contracts.
showing eight items. the largest of
which was contract for S4,500,0 900
for printing presses given the Le-
high Machine Company. Lehighton.
Pa. Elias Berlon, New York, con-
tracted. according to the list. to sell
$3,O00.000 worth of shoes; Fischman
& Co. New York. s5.Ooo.ooo. under
wear; Weinberg & Posner. New York.
s3.000.000. machine tools; Babroff
Company. Milwaukee. four contracts,
totaling S1.400,000, for shoes and ma
chimes.
Big Order for Packers.
Norris & Co., Chicago packers. on
January 27 executed an agreement to
furnish $4,000, 900 pounds of food
products" at prevailing market prices.
the total unnamed.
One contract for $10,000.o0O. given
the National Storage Company of New
York. covering "merchandise." had
them were conditional, Mr.. Martens
said. answering questions upon the is
suance of export licenses by the State
Department to the firms mentioned.
About $4,000 a month was the
amount of money coming to him now.
a total of $150,000, Martens said.
Chairman Moses asked him what his
own salary was, and he said he fixed
it himself" leaving the amount un-
stated.
Were you limited in any way as
to the use of your funds?" Chairman
Moses asked.
Funds Barred From Politics.
1T was left to my judgment" Ar
Martens answered, except that I was
not to spend It on any party or fac
About $4,000 reached him the first
month, he said, and was the largest
consignment.
Unable to ship goods delivered him
to Russia, Mr.. Martens said, the COM
paratively small quantities deliveed
had been stored.
Chairman Moses renewed a question
as to the means of getting Mr.. Mar
tens his funds and the witness an
swered that courierS were sent from
Moscow several times a month"
Were they interrupted often2'
Chairman Moses asked.
often" Mr.. Martens said. Several
were caught and shot in Finland. and
others were captured in Germany"
Ten Carriers Arrived Safely.
Senator Brandegee. Connecticut.
joined the examination.
How many altogether did they
send your he demanded Mr. Mar
tens spared for a minute. but finally
said that about twenty had started
from Moscow. and that ten reached
him.
"All bearing money!" Senator Bran
degee pursued.
Yes" was the reply.
Chairman Moses asked how they
passed customs lines and here Mar
tens stopped.
will you give US the names of
these couriers?" Chairman Moses de-
manded.
Il decline to state" Mr.. Martens
answered.
will you tell us the names of cour-
iers from you to Russian" Chairman
Moses asked again.
II decline to state" was the reply.
ANY of them American citizens?"
Senator Brandegee queried.
mot so far as l know. the soviet
agent said, Attorney Hardwick in
tervened with an appeal to the COM
mittee declaring the matter delicate" 4"
Mr. Martens said that some of the
messengers had passports
Switching the question, Chairman
Moses brought out that Mr.. Martens
was putting his wise on passports of
travellers who wanted to go to Russia.
..They were then recognized by the
authorities of soviet Russia" Mr..
Martens explained. He also issued pass
ports in his own right. he continued,
and letters of introduction.