The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-19
MARTENS in
own DEFENSE
Denies Connection With Any
Movement to Overthrow
Government.
HARDICK is HIS LAWYER
Objection to Stevenson as Spes
'cial Counsel Registered by
Senator Borah.

ArcnlDald stevenson, counsel for the
Lusk legislative committee when it in
vestgated soviet Russian activities in
New York caused the senate committee
appointed to probe alleged bolshevism
and propaganda to proceed without legal
assistance this morning.
After Ludwig c. A. X. Martens. self
styled Russian soviet ambassador to the
United States. had given a brief per-
sonal history of himself and his life in
Russia. the committee adjourned sud-
denly today because its members had
pressing engagements.
Chairman Moses announced the COM
mittee would meet at his call. probably
Wednesday and that meantime Martens
was to consider himself in the custody
Of the committee.
Martens. through his attorney. For
mer Senator Hardwick. of Georgia,
promised to answer every inquiry made
of him.
Just before adjournment, Martens re-
plying to questions by Chairman Moses
said he had sent many communications
to the state department in his "Gfficial
capacity" as the soviet Ambassador"
but had never received a reply to any
of them. He said his communications
dealt with number of subjects but
he did not go into details.
Trained for Engineering.
Martens said he was born in Russia
of German parents, and was educated
in Russian schools as a mechanical en-
/ gineer, but never practiced his profess
sion, as he was arrested for agitation
against ''the government of the car"
There was no trial" he said. Il was
/ put into Jail in 1896, kept there three
years, and then deported to Germany.
There was put in the army and spent
two years in it,
til 1905, when he went to Switzerland.
From Switzerland Martens went to Eng
land, where he lived for ten years. He
said he registered there as an alien
enemy after the war began but was not
interned, as his German citizenship
was regarded by the British authori-
4 ties as purely technical one" He came
to the United States in 1916, he said,
. and went to work as purchasing agent
+ for Russian steel company.
Russian Citizen.
Were you employed by a Russian
4 paper here?" asked Senator Moses.
NO / contributed articles to the
. Now Mir" Martens answered.
THAT is socialist paper. | under
Z stand 1t has been closed"
Senator Moses asked if he had regis
Il tered as a German citizen after the
United States entered the war.
mo, l had perfected my Russian
citizenship before the registration was
required" Martens responded
Denied Charges,
I'm his statement Mr.. Martens VIII
II deny specifically that he had been
icentifled with or instigutcd any Inuye-
+ mciit or propaganda involving any re-
sort to violence or any attempt what
ever to overthrow the American gov,
ernment" Mr. Hardwick said. 1t Will
show that he has acted with unscrupu-
X lous propriety and in full accordance
X with international law as the repre-
sentative in this country of the Rus
sian people,"
Hardwick said he himself had super
Vised the construction of the statement.
At Senator Borahs suggestion. Mar
tens was permitted to proceed with his
statement Martens spoke in English
f with a pronounced accent, which did
# not however, prevent him from being
clearly heard and understood.
Martens said at the age of % years
no was deported from Russia to Ger
many, in 1896, He said he practiced
his profession of scientist in Germany
until 1905. when he went TO Switzer-
land, where he became Identified with
the people interested In the reVolu-
tionnry movement in Russia.
Deported From Russia.
His arrest. and deportation from RUS
N sia he said, took place in connection
with agitation at the time OF the eoro-
nation of Alexander H. He served TWO
years in the German army during his
stav in Germany, being forced to un-
dergo military service. He returned
from Switzerland TO Germany in 1906.
and thence TO England. where he re-
maincd ten years. More than n year
after the war began he came to this
country. the English government fur
nishing him with passports and offer
ing no objection to his departure for
" America Upon his arrival at New York
he declared his German citizenship, but
N was permitted to land when he showed
he was here to represent Russian in
terests and his mission in this country
was TO buy machinery for Russia.
Il Martens said n year after his arrival
Hin this ountry he was elected" 10
&the editorial board Of q socialist
#paper published in this country. and he
Twas engaged with his editorial duties
when the United States entered the
WAR" He did not register as an enemy
#alien then as he had taken out papers
*of Russian citizenship.
II am a Russian citizen" Martens
added
Il submit herewith" Martens added.
."and ask to have inserted In the record.
IA Photographic copy of my credentials
ms representative i'm the United States
pf the Russian socialist federal soviet
republic
Martens said he had repeatedly pre-
Rented his Credentials" TO the state de-
partment, hut TO all his communications
he had received no reply.
The hearing room was well sprinkled !
with department OF Justice agents, while
Martens was on the stand.
Following the completion OF his st1te- /
nent the committee adjourned until /
"Wednesday so II might have opportunity
o. employ counsel.
we are after facts. not theories" /
Senator Moses said The view Seems |
# o prevail that we are sitting either rs
local body OF the Russian soviet or for /
he purpose Of 'railroadinE' Martens out 1
hf the country. We propose 20 do neither /
put 10 get 20 the bottom Of soviet Rus |
sian activities IN the country. Every |
body will be given fair play md full I
opportunity 10 tell his story. bat We are I
rot going TO listen to theories. but /
Warrant Ready
Martens produced the following Gre |
hentials:
~ Is hereby announced that Pussian /
aviet citizen. Ludwig Christian Alex /
nder Karlolvitch Martens who resides /
N the United States OF America. Is ap- /
ointed the representative Of the peo- i
les commissariat Of foreign affairs tn .
be United states Of America.
tSigncdl Peoples C0snmissair for /
foreign Affairs. -
Il suhmIt herewith also. and ask 10 /
ave q inserted In the record. a copy Of /
rofher document authorizing me 10 .
epresent the Russian socialist federal ]
oviet republic On various legal c1pad- /
49, in the United states Martens /
"a aThfs document also de-C-ihes me I
d citizen Of that republic Il rsade as /
7HnWs.
..rhe pecrie's commfssariat snr for
= nFairs % the Russ 'n1 federated 90 4
r9fst soviet republic her nv deriaies l
b.t riHzrn LudwtE Martens is au- /
-orized 20 take charge tri
rravk U,lrke. assistant CHEF of the /
shircton bureau of the department