New-York tribune., 1920-08-23
Nagle Asserts
His Detention
Is Unjustified
Latvian Diplomat Insists In
vestigation W ill Con-
vince Washington That
He Is Not Undesirable
No Sympathy With Reds
Likes America and Intends
to Return as Citizen if
Denied Post in Legation

Confidence that a full investigation
Of his past activities will remove the
objections of the State Department to
his entrance into this country was ex-
pressed yesterday by Alfred Nagle,
secretary of legation of the Latvian
government, at Ellis Island, where he
has been detained since his arrival here
Thursday.
~ have nothing but the most pro-
found admiration for American institu-
tions and am sure that neither act nor
utterance of mine has been inimical to
the welfare of this country" Mr.. Nagle
said. "The difficulties surrounding my
entrance, | am convinced, are the re-
suit Of misunderstanding and will be
cleared away in due time,
If it is true that the State Depart
ment has requested my government to
recall me shall probably go back to
Latvla, but that circumstance will in
no way affect my determination to re-
turn to America at the earliest oppor-
tunity, II not as the representative of
my government, then as a private citi-
zen.
Disavows Red Lcanings
Mr.. Nagle declared he had given cv-
cry assistance to the Allied cause dur
ing the war and disavowed any sympa-
rropagatcd by Leninc and Trotzky
ut has been enormously stated in the
newspapers since my detention,' he
sald, that | am a close friend and ad-
mirer Of Leninc. Such is not the case
met Leninc in 1907 but the friendship
between us has never been close one
and am distinctly opposed to the radi-
cal theories OF government he repre-
sents.
:, "The ,l,l1 only revolutionary activities
directed against the Imperial Russian
government and for them | was exiled
to Siberia for life in 1907.
SIX years later | succeeded in cscap-
ing from the Russian prison camp and
made my wa to Hamburg, Germany.
where was teaching in the Academy
OF Commerce when the war broke out.
During its early stages | was nterned d
IN germany. Eventually, escaped and
made my way to Stockholm, where |
entered the employ of Roger L. Sim
mons, commissioner of the Department
of Commerce, at Washington, D. c..
then on a special mission abroad for
this country.
"" hlle on a trip into the Russian
interior Mr.. Simmons fell i'll of pneu-
monla. | nursed him through that ill.,
ness and a few days later we were
taken prisoners by the Bolsheviki
after an incarceration Of two weeks at
Bautirki | succeeded in having a letter
smuggled to the American Consul and
our release was effected
Joined Staff of Morris
When we returned to Stockholm Mr..
SIMMONS recommended NE to Ira Nell
son Morris, American Minister to Swe-
den, with the result that I became at
tachcd to the American Legation there.
maintained this connection until tLe
bolshevlk evacuation Of the territory
now comprising Latvia made it possible
Tor me to return and participate in the
formation Of the government now nre-
vailng there"
Mr.. Nagle, whose government has
not been officially recognized bv tue
united States, secuted reports cmanat
ing from Berlin that the Latyian
regime, headed by Karl Ullmani. has
been ovcrthrown He said he believed
they had their origin in the formation
of new Cabinet.
me detained secretary exhibited a
letter from Mr.. Simmons in which the
American official spoke most highly of
ms services while in the employ of the
Department Of Commerce.
NO" he concluded, II cannot jmap-
inc why | am considered an undesir-
able. The conjecture that NAV have
disseminated anti American propa-
ganda is absurd My association with
Americans has been delightful. Even
here, since my detention, MY wife and
have been treated with the utmost
consideration. | guess I like America
better than your State Department
does me-"