New-York tribune., 1920-04-15
Senate Inquiry
Finds Martens
Is Alien Enemy
Action by Department of
Justice Against ssSoviet
Ambassador" Demanded
in Report by Committee
Is Still German Subject
Not in Plots to Overthrow
u. S. Government; Revolt
Propaganda Was General

From Ths TrIbxns's Wdskino oton Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 14.-Ludwig c..
A. K. Martens, self-styled Ambassador
si the Russian Soviet government to
the United States, is an alien enemy,
and the Department Of Justice should
take action against him, the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said to-
day in its report on the investigation
of Russian propaganda in the United
States.
The committee refused to confirm
the charge recently made by Attorney
General Palmer that Martens sought
to overthrow the government of the
United States In the original draft
Of the report prepared by Senator
Moses, Of New Hampshire, chairman
of the subcommittee that conducted
the Investigation, this charge was de-
clared TO have been borne out by testi-
mony before the committee.
The whole Foreign Relations Com
mittee changed the report, however, to
make it read chat it had been estab-
lshed that Martens had advocated the
overthrow Of government and refer
encs to the government Of the United
States was stricken from the findings.
Borah to Make Report
Senator Borah, Of Idaho, announced
that he intends to file q separate
report in which he will declare that
while it has been shown that Mar
tens was conducting Bolshevik propa-
ganda in this country, he was in no
way associated with any plots which
aimed directly at the government OF
United States.
= The subcommittee Of the Foreign
Relations committee conducted hear
ings on the case of Martens over a
period of several weeks. 1t completed
is inquiry two weeks ago, and Martens
then was taken into custody by the
Department of Labor. Senator Moses
vas chairman of the subcommittee
and the other members were Senators
Borah and Brandegee, Republicans. and
Shields, Tennessee, and Pittman, Ne
vsda, Democrats. The Subcommittee
reported the following conclusions
based upon the testimony presented
to it in the Martens case:
Martens has no status whatever in
this country in any diplomatic or other
governmental representative quality
; Martens assumes to represent the
Russian Federated Soviet Republic-a
regime established in Russia by revo-
lation; regime which has never been
recognized by the government of the
United States and which, in interna-
tonal law, has no standing as con-
stituted authority.
Martens has received no recog-
ntlon officially or even personally by
the government of the United States.
Martens. by the accepted practice of
this government in all its treaty or
other international obligations and
usages. is German subject, and in
esnsequence an alien enemy.
"Martens's propaganda in this coun-
Try for the overthrow of governments
Is established by his own testimony
that he has publicly associated and
sympathized with those advocating
such course. He admitted to the COM
nittee his persistent revolutionary
character, his desire to see the estab-
ishment Of the dictatorship of the
proietarlat' in all lands, and his opin-
ion that it would be better for this
country If the soviet government were
established here. 1t was also proven
nat he continued to employ in the staff
q his embassy persons who have pub
ilely and in his presence advocated the
sr'nglng of Bolshevism to America, and
ae admitted to the committee that amy
Esans which would produce this con-
Gtlon would be justified
AL this leads the committee to the
nuelusion that Martens's activities
.fre have been Of such a nature to rem
aer him more liable for investigation
and action by the Department Of Jus
nee than by the committee Of the SEN
.te"
Martens failed to show before the
Smmistee that he was a Russian citi-
i'n, the report said, but testimony was
MADE showing him to be German sub
Nsx In this respect the report said
Tie inquiry whether or not Mar
xns Is an alien enemy brought out
nat Martens vas born at Bachmut. in
.ae Province Of Ekaterinoslav. in Rus
"a, IN 1874, and that his parents were