Evening star., 1920-02-18
martens SUBJECT
TO GR|LL|NG QUIZ
Admits Letter of Lenin, Sow
ct Premier, to U. S. Work.
ingmen C0unSeled Revolt.

The Senate committee which is in
vestigating soviet activities in the
United States today resumed inquiry
into the real purposes and conditions
of the Russian soviet government.
Ludwig c. A. X. Martens, soviet
agent in the United States. faced a
grilling cross-examination by Wade
H. Ellis. attorney for the committee,
who sought the information from him.
Throughout his examination Martens
sought to draw a distinction between
the acts Of his government and his own
| official activities and those of the
Pussian communist party.
You assert positively that Russian
bank depositors were Undermined
when the soviets took over the
piled affirmatively. and the examiner
read from the soviet order confiscat-
ing the institutions. which said that
"the interests of small depositors Will
be safeguarded."
Query ax to Larger Depositors.
What became of the larger deposi-
tors?" he demanded.
They. too, had their interests safe
guarded to certain degree" Mar
tens replied LAS l remember it. bonds
to the extent of 10000 rubles were
furnished. Amounts over that were
annulled."
80 when you try to buy shoes and
machinery and supplies in the United
States you expect to pay for it with
the money your government con-
fiscated in this way"
Not entirely" Martens replied.
Martens explained the soviet effort
to abolish property is means of pro-
duction and exchange" saying that
not all property was taken.
so the soviet only took the prop
erty of it's enemies. not it's friends.
Mr.. Ellis observed.
Not many of our friends had
money" Martens answered.
German Property Not Molested.
"And you haven't taken the prop
erty of Germans in Russia" Ellis
continued.
We were bound to respect that
by treaty provisions ending the war
between Russia and Germany Mar
tens said.
you've said you haven't melted
revolution in the United States" Mr..
Ellis began. "If you knew that
letter urging abolition of constitu-
tional government in the United
States. the overthrow of the existing
system. would you call that melting
revolution?"
1T might be-" Martens said. but it
would be justified under the conditions
in 1918. and even a little later. when
attacks were being made on Russia by
other powers.
Would Regard Declaration "Stupid.-
"If Lloyd George. as premier of
England, should urge overturn of the
American government" Mr.. Ellis con-
tinued. would you call that incitement
to rebellion?"
"I think he would be a stupid fellow
to do that" Martens said
That isn't the point" Mr.. Ellis ex-
claimed. Il think your government
stupid. too"
Martens conceded such an epistle
might be revolutionary, and Attorney
Lenin, Russian premier. to working
men Of the United States. urging es-
tablishment of the soviet system
here, overthrow of reactionary labor
leaders like Gompers." and of "bour-
geoise parliaments." 1t was written in
January, 1919.
THAT came long after your appoint
ment here?" Mr.. Ellis inquired
Martens said the letter did not come
through him.
'.Do you how repudiate that letter."
Mr.. Ellis asked.
Under certain circumstances such a
letter might be Justified Martens re-
piled. A long colloquy to establish the
date OF his appointment as ambassador
to the United States resulted in the
the letter written January 81, 1919
Was Appointed in March.
Martens said he had not received the
appointment until March, however. He
insisted that the letter was war propa-
ganda." Russia was at war with all
powers during the last two years." he
said.
The United States did not declare
war on Russia. did it?' Senator Brande-
gee. republican. Connecticut, asked
1T made war without declaring it,"
Martens replied
WAS this war going on when you
were appointed?" Mr.. Ellis resumed.
Yes" Martens said
Then your government appointed a
representative in country with which
It was at war; Mr.. Ellis said
Officially there was no war" Martens
said. but actually there was a war.
which is now finished