The Washington times., 1920-06-23
MARTENS REBUFF
COST j. S. BILLIONS
Spurned Soviet Envoy Had
Same Offer krassin Now
Makes Britain and France.
ny HARRY l.. ROGERS.
I.tsuationsI News service.

Martens, Ambassador from ooN'''
Russia, cost the United states ap-
proximately one and a half billions
aside from trade worth millions or
dollars annually. according to In
formation disclosed here today.
Martens. this information indi-
Gates. came to America armed with
tho same proposal which Gregory
Krassin, Soviet Minister of Trade
and Commerce. now conferring with
Premiers Lloyd George and Millerand
on the subject OF reopening trade,
has just made to Great Britain and
France; namely. that Soviet Russia
acknowledges all Russia's debts to
Great Britain and France, provided
those countries recognize the Soviet
government and cease to make war
on II.
Russia owes America approx
mately $1,000, 100000. according to
the most accurate figures available
here. or this amount $lS7,729.75O
was lent by the United States Gov
ernmeht during the Kerensky regime
which followed the overthrow OF
the Czar. Unofficial figures COM
piled by the Treasury, and informa-
tion from other sources, show that
additional loans authorized by the
Russian government and noated
through private banking corpora
tious bring this amount to $l,30S,-
s29, $50, interest not computed.
Under the Krassin- Martens dicta
these obligations are repudiated.
Though Martens title of "ambas-
sador" has never been officially rec
ognized. and the envoy himself never
received by the State Department,
the circumstances surrounding his
mission have always been perfectly
well known to officials here. Arriv-
ing in the midst OF nation wide
drives upon radical "undesirables."
most of whom were thought to de-
rive their inspiration for disorder
from the Soviet doctrine. he was dis
credited from the first and was
never really given an opportunity
seriously to present his proposal.
With Great Britain, Germany. and
Italy eager for resumption OF trade
relations with Russia, and France,
though reluctant. being gradually
pressed by the other allies to accept
the new point of view, officials here
are specializing as to whether the
United States might not have done
well to give greater consideration to
the Claims OF MdTtenS.
Under present circumstances, they
point out, the United States not only
loses to European nations great
market for American products and
huge volume OF Russian raw mater
ials which IL available would do much
to lessen the cost Of living her; but
she also is exceedingly likely to lose
the gigantic sum involved in these
loans, or at best will become least
preferred creditor, to be paid only
after Russia has liquidated her obli-
cations to all other nations.
On the question of reopening trade
with Russia, there is a sharp division
OF opinion in the United States. Few
favor recognition of the soviet gov
ernment, but there is a well defined
and rapidly growing feeling, especial
ly among large business interests,
that individuals and corporations in
America should be permitted to trade
at their own risk with similar indi-
viduals and corporations in Russia, es-
pecially since such trade is actually
being carried on, either openly or
covertly by practically all the nations
of Europe. The United States Cham
Der of Commerce is on record as IA
voring such a solution OF the problem,
and at one time plans were virtually
competed Dy tnlS IoNeTHHieHt LUZ du-
thorization of such trade.
Those who think well OF this solu-
ton, argue that the present ban on
trade Is not really effective. inasmuch
as the War Trade Board, while rcfus-
ing absolutely to issue licenses for
Soviet Russia. freely grants them for
shipments destined to Letvia, Esfh-
onia, Lithuania or Finland, which
have declared their independence Of
the Soviet, and there is nothing to
prevent commodities consigned to
these countries being trans shipped
to Soviet Russia The same applies
to Denmark, Norway and Sweden,
and that such a sub-rosa trade is be-
ing carried on is indicated by the
rapid mounting Of exports to those
countries. Americans, It Is pointed
out, might even ship by rail to Can
adian ports and thence directly to
Soviet Russia.
The other school Of opinion, headed
by the Secretary of State Bainbridge
Colby, as spokesman for the Wilson
Administration, holds that the Soviet
regime is a government of the minor
ity imposed by force; that it is
founded upon violence and oppression,
a threat to civilization; and that the
United States must be guilty of no
act which could be construed as lend
ing it's aid or comfort. This attitude
of the new Secretary of state has
been unwavering: and IL anything, is
more clearly defined today than