Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-31
SOVIET RUNNERS
HAVE DIFFICULTY
REACHING j. S.,
MARTENSCLA|MS
@oIsheyiki Agent Says That
e .sos,' of 20 Messengers
fsSo,ass~ From Russia
0mSns$S rived Here,
ANSWER WITHHELD WHEN
ASKED TO GIVE NAMES
Admits Receiving S150,000
Through This Route; Is
Million Dollars Worth of
Supplies Contracted For.


ny MORNING JouRNAL SPECIAL LEASED wssIt
Washington, Jan. 30.-How the
Iconriers of soviet Russia carrying
,fdnds to finance its propaganda in
America, ran the gauntlet of
death and Imprisonment in the
surrounding states of Europe. was
a story half told when abandoned
today by Ludwig c. A. n Martens.
soviet agent in the United States,
before the senate foreign relations
subcommittee investigating Rus
| sian propaganda.
Martens flatly declined to an
swer further questions put him by
the committee on the subject OF
| the couriers, and left Ii to consider
whether or not his plea of "diplo-
matte immunity" from further eN-
lamination should be allowed, while
lie went on to recount his personal
activities in endeavoring to get his
government recognized by the state
department and in placing provi-
sional contracts for $4,000 900
worth of food. clothing and ma
Chinery with American business
L., q.
had resulted in placing two or
three letters b,ttit President Will
Ison, urging recognition though the
state department has remained
firm in its refusal to recognize him
| in any, way.
out of twenty of the mysterious
messengers who started during the
Hast year from Moscow with funds
land letters to him, Martens said,
seven had gotten through the bar
riers of armies and International
frontiers. Several had been shot
lsummarily in Finland-"three that
know about" Martens said cas-
lually, of ten who tried to get
through Germany. nine were
lcaught and jailed The first man
to reach him. however, carried
S3O,0 600 and his credentials as So
4 lviet ambassador to the United
states. The couriers carried money
In the form of Finnish marks, or
scandinavian currency, Martens
Isaid and had various varieties of
passports. Here he began to evade.
though Senator Moses of New
Hampshire, chairman of the COM
mittee, and Senator Brandegee of
Connecticut, were rrodding him on
with questions as to messengers
routes and methods of travel and
DISCUSSES.
II decline to answer" he stated
finally when asked to name one of
) the couriers. and repeated his
words quietly when the topic was
, pushed further. He, too, had sent
couriers, he admitted, but of their
fortunes he had not been advised.
: Altogether. $780, 600 had come TO
| him through the underground
, route and also an instruction, so
he said, not to spend any OF the
money "on politics or the support
p Of internal factions or parties in
! the United States" r2'
A list of contracts for goods en-
tered into by Martens was sub
mitted to the committee with the
explanation that the firms named
had agreed to furnish the goods
cnly upon condition that they were
given licenses by the state depart
ment to export the products to
soviet Russia s
=, Only $4,000 had been paid on
the contracts. Martens said. and
none of the goods had been shipped.
You depended on the relations
D. orened with American business
concerns to help you get recogni-
ton 2" Chairman Moses asked. z
Yes" Martens replied, adding
that he knew of many letters and
4 representations made by Americans
' friendly to the soviet government
Itc American officials and speaking
particularly of sat least two" which
: went to President Wilson from In
$ dviduals. who he intimated. would
u likely secure hearing.
] Martens examination will be
= resumed after Wade II. Ellis. at
7, torney employed to conduct the
$ Investigation, has recovered from
4 his illness
At the outset of the hearing to-
e day, former Senator Hardwick Of
n Georgia, counsel for Martens, tost
y the committee that Martens woulC
d present true copies of all communi'
', cations between himself and tbs
It soviet government, but that 1t wa
i, desired that some of the letters h.
IS considered in executive session. a.
It il might involve the safety OF per
sons who have kept open the lin'
e or communication between Martens
- end his government. Q