The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-27
MARTENS IN DENIAL
OF SPREADING "RED"
PROPAGANDA IN U. s.
OFFERS TO PRESENT
HIS INSTRUCTIONS
Asserts Red Russia Has No
Worldwide Plans in Con-
temptation

wASuINGTON. Jan. 26.-SoNict Rus.
A!a transformed by assured success OF
it, leadership at home! Is no longer
fired by the missionary zeal which lCd
IT'S agents and cmiSsarieS during inc
first months of it's existence 10 preach
world wide revolution. Ludwig &. \. Is.
Martens. who calls himself the ambas-
saIor from that country To the United
States. testified to-day before a senate
iuvrSU cation committee.
"rhr Soviet republic at pr, sent, Mr..
Martens said. does not care what Kind
Of government other peoples have and
has indulGcd in general revolutionary
propaEanda only when 1t was on the de-
fcnSivr. and hard pressed by nations
which had armies IN the field against
it," To-day. because ii is strong
enough to fight the world" il has
abandoned. he added, the principles
first promulgatcd to the effect that
il can be maintained only by the de-
Structiou Of other governments every
where which recognize property rights
and CapitalistIc organization.
Senators Incredulous.
The statement of Martens was made
under oath. in response to fire or
questions from Senator Moses, Rcpub-
liCan, New Hampshire. chairman of the
Investigating committee. and Senator
Borah, Idaho. Plainly incrcdulous SEN
ator Borah shot him query after query.
repeating various reported manitestnS
OF the federated Soviet Russian repub-
lie, which called on revolutionary ele-
men,s everywhere to organize working
men to revolt against all organized
government. and demanding 10 know
whether or not every Soviet supporter
was not bound to work for tho destruc-
TIN of all governments recognizing capi-
tai. Martens met him with quick de-
malls.
Particularly. Martens denied all con-
nection with revolutionary movements
in the United States. though admitting
some knowledES of them. He said. they
were purely American arising out OF
American conditions and az Soviet
agent here he had not helped or financ-
ed them or their followers. He had
instructions from his government. he
said To stay clear of interference with
American internal affairs. All of his
publicity efforts. very extensive as
outlined in his testimony, were devoted
TO explaining the Soviet system to the
end that Americans would allow its rec
ognition as the established government
In Russia. and were not to extend il In
the United States.
To Furnish tho Proof.
When the committee demanded copies
of the actual governmental instructions
TO that effect. former senator Hard
wich, Of Georgia, attorney for the So
Wet bureau. argued that to give them
might disclose the code" in which the
Soviet foreign office correspondent with
Martens, which should be entitled to
immunity. but promised notwtthstand
ing. TO furnish them in the original or
in sworn translationS. An adjournment
was taken until Thursday. partly to let
Martens examine his records for that
purpose.
the Soviet government had $i50.000. 900
eign trade. stating briefly that there
was little or no gold in the hands or
private banks or individuals" and that
about 1000 American concerns were
ready to sell 1t goods.
Much OF Martens testimony took the
form OF written statement, though
he was interrupted constantly in its
reading by the sharply put questions OF
his senatorial auditors. Besides enter
ing his denial Of charges that he had
participated in financing revolutionary
activities in the United States. tho wit
ness said he was spending S".jO0 a
week on the maintenance Of some thir-
ty-five employees. He gave tho COM
them. including American clerks and
stenographcrs and press agents.
His Work Here.
The money expended came from Rus
Sia. he testified. in the form Of paper
currency Of Finland. Sweden and other
ncighboring states. Besides publishing
a weekly magazine, soviet Russia
the Soviet bureau. he said. maintained
an educational department designed to
HELM, Russians get technical education
in the United States. which would be
useful TO the Soviet government when
these persons returned aho went into
industry, a technical department. to
employ Experts TO assemble data for
usS ~ tho Statc-opcratcd industries. n
legal department t. advise him and
other RUSSIANS. and n medical depart
m"nt. also designed 10 get Russia com
pctcut practitioners and surgeons.
Scnaton Borah inquired as To tho
"Sovict Russia" publcation'S mail ahil-
ity. and when Martins returned that
Postmaster General RurleSon had never
objected to its Subscription. the senator
remarked Grlrly. amidst lhuGht"r in
tho hearing room that "it must hc all
right"
Martens Incidentally told of his on
dsavors to secure ti'lC to property OF
Russian consular agents and diplomatic
representatives already in tho country.
but said nc had not pressed the matter
IN the courts because the state depart
ment had not Recognized him.
Chairman Moses warned the witness
at the conclusion Of the testimony that
ne was still To regard himself IS in
custody until the inquiry was resumed