The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-02
TO INVESTIGATE
 RUSSIAN LOANS

Washington, April 2-1t has not been decided whether the arrest of Ludwig c, A K. Martens. representa~ tive of the Russian Soviet govern ment will terminate the investigation being copdacted by a subcommittee of the Senate Fereign Relations Com. nfttee or not. When the resolution for this investigation was before the Senate an amendment was added by Senator Borah against stubborn oppo- sfdon from several administration senators by which it was proved that the investigation might take up the advances of funds to Russia as a war measure and the use to which those funds were put.
 This was done because there were floating about many accounts of the misuse of the moneys thus advanced The government has authorized loans to Russia to the amount of $187,0o0,- 900 and, with the fall of the Kerensky government, declined to make any further advances. Roughly, the charge has been made that war sup plies of various kinds were contracted for and paid for out of the $187, ,000,- 900 to the amount of 98,000.0O0 and that other contracts were entered into for similar war supplies and, when the time came for payment to the American contractors, the funds were not on hand for the purposes of this liquidation.
 After delays the United States gov ernment took possession, it is said, of the supplies sold them and paid off the claims of the contractors. This, obviously, if it is the whole story, in- dicates that in some manner a large amount of the credit advanced to Rus- sia was not accounted for properly. The amount has been variously stated here, but is believed to be about $90,- 000,00O.
 A number of Americans have been said to be involved in the affair and the investigation urged by Senator Borah was for the purpose of ascer- taining who they were and to what extent they had been involved. With Senator Borah absent on the stump in Michigan. the sub-commit- tee will not take up this end of the in vestigation, but there is said to be a probability that when MT. Borah re- turns to Washington the matter will be taken up for decision by the com nittee.
 Some evidence of the transactions under the Russian credit came into the hands, it is said, of Martens in connection with the contracts for rail- road rolling stock which was in charge of Prof. Lomonosoff. who withdrew from the Kerensky govern ment and gave his adhesion to the present government. Martens is said to have demanded the transfer of the funds left from the various contracts, but up to this time has not received any part of it.
 As the State Department still re- cognizes Bakmeteff, the Kerensky amba Ssador, as the representative of the Russian government, members Of the Foreign Relations Investigating Committee take the position that be- , cause of his diplomatic immunity he has the right to protect himself from any inquiry into what was done with the funds coming into his hands. There is, therefore, a lively interest in the report that this government will soon recognize the Soviet gov- ernment of Russia
 Members of the Foreign Relations Committee said that they did not think Martens would be deported, and if the Soviet government is recogniz- ed he will be promptly released.
 Martens still insists that he is not concerned with our political affairs and that his only mission is to buy goods that the Russian people need. He has started, it is said, many in- dustria1 activities, among them being the schooling of 2,5O0 Russians in Henry Ford's tractor and automobile works with view to sending them to Russia in due time to set up the trac- tor industry there. MT. Martens says that his government has more gold now than any other power in the world after the United States and England, having captured $450, 0,oOO,- 900 from the Kolchak party and add ed it to the s4OO, 1000, 900 taken over from the Cars government.