Evening star., 1920-01-19
MARTENS, "S0V|ET
Envoy OUTLINES
LIFE TO SENATORS
Committee Adjourns After
Hearing of His Wander
ings and Activities.

After Ludwig c. A. K. Martens.
self-styled Russian soviet ambassa-
dor to the United States. had given a
brief personal history of himself and
his life in Russia. the Senate commit
tee investigating bolshevik propa-
ganda in the United States. adjourned
suddenly today because its members
had pressing engagements.
Chairman Moses announced sfhaA the
committee would meet at his call.
probably Wednesday. and that mean
time Martens was to consider himself
in the custody of the committee.
Just before adjournment, Martens.
replying to questions by Chairman
Moses, said he had sent many COM
munications to the State Department
in his Official capacity" as the soviet
Ambassador" but had never received
a reply to any of them. He said his
communications dealt with a number
of subjects, but he did not go into
details.
Former Senator Hafdwick Counsel.
Martens appeared with his counsel,
former Senator Hardwick OF Georgia.
who asked that Martens be not inter-
rupted during the reading Of his pre-.
liminary statement.
Senator Moses. chairman Of the sub
committee Of the Senate committee
on foreign relations, opened the hear
ings by reading the Senate resolu-
ton authorizing the investigation
into soviet activities and purposes in
the United States. He called Martens
first. and ex-senator Hardwick Of
Georgia gave notice that he was
counsel for the soviet envoy.
"Mr Martens will also submit many
documents in Russian and English to
be a part Of his statement" Mr.. Hard
wick said. 'Mr. Martens is wholly
tending to the overthrow Of govern
ment in this country. He has con-
Quoted himself with the strictest of
propriety under the rules Of interna-
tional law, and refrained from inter-
ference with internal politics. He is
interrogations.'
Arrested BY Csar's Agents.
Martens took oath and Identified
of German parents. His name he said
was Ludwig Christian Alexander
Martens. Educated in Russian schools
as mechanical engineer, he never
practiced his profession, being imme-
diately arrested for agitation against
the government of the czar."
There was no trial." he said. IT
was just put into Jail in 1896, kept
there three years, and then deported
to Germany. There I was put in the
army, and spent two years in it,
He had then worked as an engineer.
until 1905, when he went to Switzer-
land.
why did you go there?" Senator
Borah. republican. Of Idaho asked.
ITO meet my old friends of the So
cial democratic party" Martens said,
who were conducting revolutionary
activities in Russia"
Tells Of First Arrest.
His first arrest in Russia. he said,
was caused by his participation in the
Many o,Sers were arrested at the
same time.
He was questioned further as to his
history, and told Of going to England
from Switzerland, where he lived for
ten years, registered there as an alien
enemy after the war began, but was
not interned.
my German citizenship was regard
ed by the British authorities as purely
a technical one" Martens said said In
and allowed me to come to the United
States in 1916 without making any
difficulties"
and had gone to work here as pur-
chasing agent for a Russian steel
company.
Contributed to Novi Mir.
.Were you employed by a Russian
naper herer Senator Moses asked.
mo, / contributed articles to the
Noyi Mir" Martens answered. THAT
is socialist paper. ] understand 1t
has been closed"
Senator Moses asked II he had regis
tered as German citizen after war
was declared.
mo. I had perfected my Russian citi-
zenship before the registration was re-
ouired," Martens responded.
Named Soviet Representative.
He nut in several certificates given
by the Russian soviet government.
authorizing him as a Russian citizen, 20
represent it in business. legal and diplo-
matte matters. One of them authorized
him to take over all property of former
Russian legations in the United Statesl
and all deposits Of Russian government
funds in the United States.
Since each government must be con-
sidered the sole Judge in determining the
k1tAtua of IT. citilenakiD I tolcA Il 49,