The evening world., 1920-02-17
SOVIET "ENVOY"
DEFIES SENATORS;
HIDES HIS CODES
Martens Refuses to Surrender
Secret Instructions From
Lenine and Trotzky.

WASHINGTON, FEB. 17.-Ludwir
c. 4. X. Martens, Russian Soviet rep
resentative in the United States, to-
day dsfied the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Sub- Committee and refused to
disclose secret instructions from his
Government"
These documents have been Hidden,
he said. and he declined to disclose
their location. Others have been des-
troyed. Martens was cross-aues-
toned by Wade II. Ellis. attorney
for the committee
do you still refuse to submit your
instructions and correspondence, Sc
cret and otherwise?" Ellis asked- Il
do" Martens replied. I'VE cannot re-
veal our secret code"
''Have you destroyed any Of these
documents?" Not very many. only
part Of them. We were 80 harassed
by the New York authorities that |
had them hid. l don't know where
they are but they are concealed in a
safe place" he added.
Martens also refused again to dis
close the name of Soviet cOuiers to
America. He disclaimed knowledge
OF the facts surrounding the seizure
of a Soviet courier in London bearing
revolutionary documents enroute to
America.
Martens acknowledged sending out
1000 copies of a circular addressed to
American manufacturers in which he
asserted that British business men are
entering Russian markets without the
handicap OF such restrictions" as are
imposed on American exporters.
Chairman Moses read letter from
the Packard Motor Car Company
denying it had sought trade with
Soviet Russia, as Martens alleged. The
Westinghouse Electric Company like
wise denied it attempted to make cOnt
tracts with Martens.
Belief in the dictatorship Of the
prOletariat" was avowed by Martens.
DO you believe II should be brought
about by force?" Ellis asked.
That is too general a question"
Martens replied. Il believe in force
when II Is necessary. Force should be
used against force, and violence
against violence"
DO you believe in overthrowing this
Government by force?" Senator
Brandegee asked. No" Martens re-
piled. Il would refuse to recommend
anything OF the kind. But ] think
the soviet form OF government is the
best"
You don't think the proletar-iat
has a right to Use revolutionary force
unless it is in the majority" Ellis
asked. THE proletariat Is always
in the majority" said. Martens.
Ellis read an alleged statement Of
Leon Trotzky crediting him with urg-
ing his Russian associates in this
country 10 stay here and conduct a
revolution. This. Martens said, was
dirty lie, like lots of others"
Questioned as to the taking over Of
land in Russia, Martens said: III
you want TO prove that property was
taken in Russia, / will state that the
Russian people, who were formerly
slaves, have contiscatcd the land and
livestock and buildings for them
selves. They took over the banks, but
not the deposits. The depositors had
the right to draw out their moneV."
Mr.. Ellis read declarations Of prin-
ctples from the Soviet Constitution
for the disarming of all classes of the
population except the workers and
the poorest peasants" ''Trotzlly is
attending 10 that" Martens observed
"disanmng the bourgeoise by fight
ing kolchak, Denikine and the rest
That's civil war"