New-York tribune., 1920-01-27
Soviet Able to
Fight World,
Martens Says
Lenine's Agent Tells SEN
ate Committee Bolsheyists
Have Abandoned Their
Idea of World Revolution

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Soviet Rus
STA, transformed by assured success of
It's leadership at home, is no longer
fired by the missionary zeal which led
It's agents and cmissaries during the
first months of its existence to preach
worldwide revolution, Ludwig c. A. K.
Martens, who calls himself the am
bassador from that country to the
United States, testified to-day before
a Senate investigating committee.
The Soviet Republic at present, Mar
tens said, "does not care what kind of
government other people have" and it
has indulged in general revolutionary
propaganda only when it was on the
defensive and hard pressed by nations
which had armies in the field against
it." To-day, because it is "strong
enough to fight the world,' it has
abandoned, he added, the principles
first promulgated to the effect that it
can be maintained only by the destruc-
ton of other governments everywhere
which recognize property rights and
CdplldilStlC organization.
These statements Martens, under
oath, made in response to a fire of
questions from Senator Moses, Repub-
lican, New hampshire, chairman of
the investigating committee, and Sen
ator Borah, Idaho.
Borah Is Incredulous
Plainly incredulous, Senator Borah
shot him query after query, repeating
various reported manifestos of the
Federated Soviet Russian Republic,
which called on revolutionary elements
everywhere to organize workingmen to
revolt against all organized govern
ment and demanding to know whether
or not every Soviet supporter was not
bound to work for the destruction of
all governments recognizing capital.
Martens met him with quick denials
isn't it one Of the tenets of your
creed that soviet governments should
be established everywhere ?" Senator
Borah asked.
'No; we don't care what kind of gov
ernment other peoples have" Martens
replied.
federation has a cardinal purpose of in
stituting a world wide revolution among
other peoples?' Senator Borah de-
manded.
There was time when Russians be-
lieved that was necessary TO sustain
their own soviets," Martens said "Now
conditions have made it unnecessary.
Russian soviets are firmly established
and have grown strong enough to sus-
tain themselves strong enough to
fight the world.
"Just recently the change was shown
L., 1o+< 7 I,
Italian Socialists, advising against a
revolution there"
"You mean to say, then, that the
cardinal tenet we have been told about,
requiring every soviet supporter to
preach and agitate Tor the establish
ment of soviets everywhere, has been
abandoned ." Senator Borah pressed.
at is not necessary now" Martens
said.
Says People Support Soviet
When he concluded answering Ques-
tions Martens said "a few thousand
dollars worth of boots and automo-
bies" were his only purchases in the
United States, but he produced a list
containing, he asserted, 1000 names of
American business houses with whom
dealings could be opened.
The witness said he regarded the
>ONltl as lllc lSSil llIlltlc
successor OF the former Russian gov
ernment. adding that about $50 per cent
of the Russian people support the So
viets."
ITO what extent DO the people par
ticipate in the government now ?" asked
Senator Borah.
"Anybody doing work participates, !"
Martens said, except those who live
on efforts Of others or were connected
with the old regime"
Particularly Martens denied all con-
ncction with revolutionary movements
in the United States, though admitting
some knowledge of them. He said they
were purely American, arising out Of
American conditions and as soviet
agent here he had not helped or
financed them or their followers. He
had instructions from his government,
he said, to stay clear of interference
with American internal affairs. All of
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