The evening world., 1920-02-19
DEFENDS
SOVIET SEIZURE
OF PROPERTY HERE
Declares Proletariat Has a
Right 70 Confscate all
Private Holdings.

WASHINGTON Feb. IS.--whethsr
Government conducting propaganda
against the United States should be
permitted 70 have a representative
here was the issue raised In the Senate
Investigation Of Russian propaganda
to-day.
Indwig q. A. X. Martens. Soviet
representative IN tho United States,
was again brought before the FOrolgn
Relations subcommittee
Complete fres6om Of speech and
Of the press In allowed in Soviet
Russia so long az violence is not
advocated, Martens told the commit
toe.
Religion Is not interfered with by
the Soviets, aGartens continued, and
the clergy have COW been given tho
right 70 vote. The sovists have Op-
posed the church In Russia, but not
religion, Martens insisted.
Us support Of the Soviet Govern
ment a requisite TO the right to voter"
Senator Moses asked. mo-" Martens
repfied. "A man can hold any political
opinion 90 long a. he does not use
treachery."
''Can q man make speeches against
the SOvistH' Moses asked. "Abso-
lutsly. with complete freedom" Mar
tens answered 'Propaganda RGainBt
the government u permitted. News
papers opposing the government by
lawful mems are permitted"
The Soviet Government determines
whether opposition is lawful or not?"
Ellis asked. Yea"
Martens again denied that Soviet
propaganda Is now being conducted
Ggainst the United States. 'Revolu-
tions are going on in England, Italy
and other countries without tho aid
OF Soviet Russia" Martens said.
'Teevolution doesn't mean violence,
IL may come without violence and bo
very very thorough"
Wade ellis, eognsel for the commit
tee, questionea AiartenR' on the basis
Ipf many a{ticles OF Soviet leaders.
Martens ssi4;sotlscuona agalnst re-
iiKion SNpF ID ~ iQYtet writer's were
personal. ana that the only object Of
the Soviet Government was ITO make
religion free" .....
The witness admitted that after the
Soviet Government had offered TO
stop revolutionary propaganda in the
United States Ienine bad writban open
letters urging revolt OF the 'proie-
tariat," and that the third international
at Moscow had urged destruction OF
all governments recognizing capital.
Mr.. Ellis read q manifesto from the
President Of the Petrograd Soviet ad-
dressed 10 "the imperial nations OF
the world" which said:
with you. MeSsVs. lmperiallstS, we
shall carry on eonNerSations as we
have done, behind every word, toreei
behind every condition. forces be-
hind every demand, fpreo,"
II was printed In the newspaper
Trud, and Martens endorsed the SEN
| timent qualifiedly. when a majority
Is suppressed by a minority II has
the right TO use force" he said.
"You mean that u the Prolstaria'
| In this country desired 20 take over
industries, investments, and abolish
private property, they would be JUS
In attending meetings OF the Com
! munist Party in the United States
Martens said he was gaining sym
pathy for Russia" not encouraging
revolution.
4 we have come here to tell Com.
| rade Martens that we have organized
TO take over this country just as th'
workers have taken over Russia" Mr.
Ellis read from an address by Greg
oFy Weinstein, now an employees o
ths Soviet Agency. Martens said h
might have disavowed the statemen
II ne had noticed it.
do you intend TO continue address
ing and attending these meeting
where the overthrow OF the Govern
ment Is advocated, by men under in
dictment or sentence for violating II
!. laws?" IL may. 1t depends on cir
cumstapces. My object was to rsacI
the American people Rs well as tn
, Government"
Martens will resume the stan
. Saturday.