The New York herald., 1920-01-31
MARTENS REVEALS
SOVIET SECRETS
Discloses Mysterious Commu-
nication with Red Russia
Through Secret Couriers.
ADMITS THREE WERE KILLED
Seven Bolsheviki Agents Out of
Twenty Succeeded in Reaching
New York.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Friday.-How the
couriers OF soviet Russia, carrying funds to
finance its propaganda in America. ran
tho gauntlet of death and Imprisonment
IN the surrounding states Of Europe was
a story begun but abandoned today by
Ludwig c. 4. X. Martens. soviet agent
In the United States, before the Senate
eating Russian propaganda.
Martens flatly declined to answer fur
ther questions put to him by the committee
on the subject of the couriers and left 1t
to consider whether or not his plea OF
diplomatic immunity from further ex-
animation should be allowed while he
went on to recount his personal activities
In endeavoring to get his government rec
ognized by the State Department and in
placing provisional contracts for s25 Co.,
GOO worth of food, clothing and machinery
with American business houses. This lat
ter effort, he said, had resulted i'm placing
two or three letters before President VIII
son urging recognition though the State
Department has remained firm in its re-
fusal to recognize him in any way.
Three Messengers Shot.
Out of twenty of the mysterious mes
sengers who started during the last year
from Moscow with funds and letters to
him, Martens said. seven had slipped
through the barriers of armies and inter-
national frontiers. Several had been shot
summarily in Finland-"three that I know
about" Martens said casually. OF ten
who tried to get through Germany, nine
were caught and jailed. The first man
TO reach him, however, carried $4,000 and
his credentials as Soviet Ambassador to
the United States. The couricrs carried
money in the form of Finnish marks, or
scandinavian currency, Martens said, and
had various varieties passports.
Here Martens began to evade, though
Senator Moses, of New Hampshire, chair
man Of the committee, and Senator
Brandegee, Connecticut, were prodding
him on with questions as to messengers
routes and methods OF travel and dis
guises.
II decline to answer" he said finally,
when asked to name one of the couriers,
and repeated his words quietly when the
topic was pushed further He, too, had
sent couriors, he admitted, but of their
fortunes had not bee advised. Altogether
$4,000 had come TO him through the I'M
derground route, and also an instruction,
so he said, not to spend any of the money
on politics or the support of internal
factions or parties in the United States.'
Contracts Run Into Millions.
A list of contracts for goods entered
into by Martens was submitted to the
committee, with the explanation that the
firms named had agreed to furnish the
goods only upon condition that they were
given licenses by the State Department
TO export the products to Soviet Russia
The largest contract cited was for S,500,000
worth of printing presses. TO be furnished
by the Lehigh Machine Company, of Le-
highton, Pa.
Martens said none of the goods had been
shipped
''You depended or the relations opened
with American business concerns to help
YOU get recognition" Chairman Moses
asked.
Yes Martens replied, adding that he
knew OF many letters and represcp tons
made by Americans friendly to the Soviet
government TO American officials, and
speaking particularly OF "at least two
which went to President Wilson from
individuals who. he intimated, would
likely secure hearing.
This was Martens sec6nd appearance
before the committee, and his examina-
tion will be resumed a the next session.
which will be called by Chairman Moses
after Wade II. Ellis. attorney employed
10 CONDUCT the investigation, has recov-
cred from his illness.
Asks Executive Session.
At the outset Of the hearing today for
ncr Senator Hardwick. of Georgia. coun-
sci Cor the ambassador" told the COM
mittee that Martens would present true
copies OF all communication between
himself and the Soviet government, but
that it was desired that some of the let
tiers be considered in executive session, as
II might involve the safety of persons who
have kept open the lines of communica-
tion between Martens and his government.
Before the committee continues the in
auiry it will decide whether TO grant the
request for an executive session, and also
whether it will require Martens to give
the names of the couriers carrying COM
munications between himself and his gov
crnment.