Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-27
CABLE. SAYSAGENT
POSED AS HARDING
ENVOY TORUSS|ANS
Colby Issues Statement Con-
corning Rumors-Flat
I Denial Is Made.

Secretary Colby yesterday issued the
following statement relative to rumors
that a representative of Senator Hard
ing has gone to Russia with certain pro-
posals for recognition of the Russian
soviet government:
Regarding the published report from
London that Washington d. Vanderiip
OF California had concluded an arrange
ment with the Russian soviet govern
ment for large concession in north
eastern Siberia, the only dispatch bear
ing directly on the subject received by,
the State Depa rtment was one received
October 90 from the commissioner for
the Baltic province at Riga. 1t states
that Lenin had informed h.. u. Neiis
that Nanderlip. the American then at
Moscow, claimed to represent Senator
Harding and had made certain pro-
posals regarding the recognition of the
bolshevik government The dispatch
further stated that Vanderlip is appar-
entity endeavoring to obtain coal conces-
sions in kamchatka.'
Colby Makes Comment.
In making public the statement Sec
rotary Colby said:
THE Wells referred to in the dis
patch is undoubtedly Mr.. H. g. Wells.
the British writer. who has lately re-
turned to England from Russia.
which | understand he visited for the
purpose of obtaining first-hand i'm
pressions of conditions in Russia.
The Vanderlip referred to in the dis
patch is presumably Mr.. Washington
D. vanderlip. to whom reference is
made in the press dispatches of today
from London and Los Angeles. These
press reports lend confirmation to the
object of Mr.. Vanderlip's activities as
revealed in the departments official
dispatch. and speak at length of i'm
portant and extensive concessions
which he claims to have received from
the soviet government.
The department has no informa-
ton beyond that contained In the dis
patch. / might say, however that it
comes without qualifying terms from
an official of the department, in whom
we place much dependence. He is
Mr.. Evan E. Young, our commissioner
at Riga, and is charged. with the duty
of reporting to the department sig
edge. The report that Mr.. Vanderlip
has made proposals looking to the
recognition of the soviet government,
and is apparently bargaining thereon
for valuable concessions. makes it
proper for me to state. by way of
warning. that. as the government of
the United States has never recog-
nized the bolshevik regime. American
busi ness men and investors should
bear in mind that any concessions
from the DOiSneVlk 2uInOT1tleS WOOlQ
have no certainty Of recognition by
future Russian governments.
U. 8. Attitude Unmistakable.
TT furthermore would be most re-
gTettable if any confusion should arise
in the minds of the soviet authorities
as to the attitude of this government
on the question of political recogni-
zion. This attitude has been stated
In unmistakable terms.
The receipt, however, of an official
dispatch conveying the intelligence
that proposals looking to recognition
have been made, even If irresponsi-.
by. makes it important that an OPP
portunity should be afforded to the
numerous body of men reported from
Los Angeles to be associated with Mr..
Vanderlip, but whose names are not
published. to define their relation to
him. il any exists
Hz Harding Makes Denial
MARION, Ohio, Octobef' 27s-Direot
denial was made by Senator Harding
of reports reaching the State Depart
ment that a Washington vanderlip
was acting as his agent in Russia.
Il have never heard of Mr. Wander
lip" said the senator. He is not
my agent, and 1 have no agent. l
know absolutely nothing about any
such matter as is discussed in these
dispatches. and have no interest in
Il whatever"
The republican nominee declined to
make any other statement regarding
the vanderlip story or to comment