The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-27
COLBY RECEIVES
SECRET MESSAGE
Washington Vanderlip at Riga
Told Lenine He Represented
Senator Harding
WAS COMMERCIAL AGENT
: West Coast Syndicate States
That Vanderlip Was Act
ing for 1t
tsy Associated Press,

Washington, Oct 26-Secretary Coll
by announced today that Commissioner
Young at Riga. had informed the state
department that Washington Wander
lip, who recently obtained concessions
in Siberia, was reported to have told
Nikolai Lenine. Russian bolsheviki
premier, that he represented Senator
Harding, the republican presidential
candidate.
The announcement issued by the
state department was as follows:
Regarding the published report from
London that Washington d. Vanderlip,
OF California. had concluded an ar
rangement with the Russian soviet
government for a large concession in
Northeastern Siberia, the only dispatch
bearing directly on the subject received
by the state department. was one re-
ceived October 20, from the commits
sioaer for the Baltic province at Riga.
Ii states that Lenine had informed II.
G. Wells, that Vanderlip, the American
then at Moscow, claimed to represent
Senator Harding, and had made certain
proposals regarding the recognition OF
the bolsheviki government. The dis
patch further stated that Vanderlip is
apparently endeavoring to obtain coal
concessions in kamachatka.
In making public the statement Sec
tary Colby said:
'''rhe 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 Impressions OF
conditions in Russia. The Vanderbilt
referred to in the dispatch is pressure
ably Mr.. Washington ID. Vanderlip. to
whom reference is made nthe press
dispatches today from London and Los
Angeles. These press reports lend co.,
flrmation to the object of Mr.. Wander
lips activities as revealed in the de-
pArtments official dispatch and speak
at length OF important and extensive
concessions which he claims to have
received from the soviet government.
"The department has no information
beyond that contained in the dispatch.
| might say, however, that it comes
without qualifying terms from an off,
cial 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 significant
facts that come to this knowledge. The
report that Mr.. Nanderlip has made pro-
posals looking to the recognition OF the
soviet government and is apparently
bargaining thereon for valuable con-
cessions makes it proper for me TO
state. by way of warning, that as the
government of the United states has
never recognized the bolsheviki regime,
American business men and investors
should bear in mind that any conoes-
sions from the bolshcviki authorities
would have no certainty of reoogni-
tion by future Russian governments.
.It furthermore would be most re-
grettable II any confusion should arise
i'm the minds Of the soviet authorlaes
,as to the attitude OF this government
.on the question of recognition This
attitude has been stated in unmistak-
able terms.
.sThe receipt however. Of an official
dispatch conveying the intelligence
that proposals looking to recognition
have been made, even if irresponsible,
makes it important that an opportun-
ity should be afforded to the numerous
body of men reported from Los An
reles TO be associated with Mr.. VAN
derlip, but whose names are not pIb-
lished to define their relation 10 him,
if any exists
Los Angeles Oct 26.-It was stated
here today by Harry Chandler, pub
Usher of the Los Angeles Times. on be-
half of the syndicate represented by
Washington n. Vanderlip, now In CO.
nenhagen. that Mr.. Vanderlip represents
purely personal business interests here
and elsewhere nthe west. He SAID that
Mr.. Vanderlip, and those he represents
have DO connection. either personally
or politically, with Senator HardihS,
and that their interest in the siberian
venture is purely commercial enter
prise without political signlncance,
Mr. Chandler is one OF the syndicate
New York. Oct 26-A cable message
received today at the Russian soviet
government bureau here confirmed the
report that Washington ID. Vanderllp, |
OF California, representing syndicate
of Pacific coast capitalists, had con-
cluded an arrangement with the Rus
sian soviet government for the devel- |
opment OF the natural resources OF
Northeastern Siberia. The message |
signed by George Tchitcherin. commits |
sioler for foreign affairs at Moscow, !
was addressed to Ludwig C. A. X. Mar
tens representative Of the soviet gov |
scantinuod on Par. T,..,