The Washington herald., 1921-01-04
ASKSF U.S..
PAYS RUSSIAN
EMBASSY BILL
Senator Norris Demands
Treasury Explain
Payments.
KERENSKY REGIME
ENDED, HE SAYS
Unbelievable, He Calls
Advance of Huge
Sum in 1917.

-
braska, introduced a resolution in
the Senate yesterday calling upon
the Treasury Department for infor-
nation as to whether the Russian
embassy in Washington is sup
ported by funds supplied by the
United States
II had been reported that AM
bassador Boris Bakhmeter. repre-
sentinE the provisional Kerensky
regime, which fell three years ago,
is maintaining a. large stan and
luxurious quarters on Sixteenth
street, while L. C. A h Martens,
Soviet Ambassador" who brought
$50. 10000 worth Of business to this
country. is being deported.
Martens surrendered yesterday to
Secretary Of Labor Wilson, and
with 40 members OF his stan will
be deported Jsusry 20.
In this connection. # Is also
pointed out that the Russian In
formation Bureau. Of which Henry
J. Sack is director. with Uffres in
the WOoIworth Building In New
York City. is still in operation. The
bureau carries on publicity and
propaganda work and was opened
soon after Kerensky tocS ONCE II
is said to be existing on the pro-
ceeds Of moneys advanced by the
American government TO the ker-
ensky regime
Gave KereRsky SS25.OOOynOo.
Up to December. 1917. according
to information which Senator Nor
ris had received. the United States
had voted 1925. 1000, 900 to the Ker-
ensky government. SlS7.T2s.750 OF
the amount being advanced. or
this advance SITS.l8l.l55 had been
spent up TO November Is. lsst, Il
was said. leaving SS.54G.5S5 upon
which the BskhmetCn embassy Is
said to Be in part subsisting. war
supplies not delivered 20 Russia
before the fall OF Kerensky were
resold in this country and the sums
thus obtained were added 10 the
credits. Senator Norris was told
"It il the most dumbfounoinE
thing I ever heard or" declared the
Senator from Nebraska. 1t is un-
beIievable Why, the kerensky gov
srnment has vanished from exist
cnce vet we are told that this gov
ernment is supporting il. There Is
a government in Russia that is
knocking at our doors with money
for the purchase Of our conEesteo
surpluscs.
WHY should we refuse TO deal
with a government that exists ana
trv to uphold one that is gone, for
gotten and can never be revived
soviet None Of Our AnHir.
The government of Russia may
not be the kind az a government
like, but il certainly is none OF my
business il the people want to De
Soviets or Bolsheviki- Japan has
not the kind OF government ] wouIo
select. nor has Great Britain
Senator Thomas p. Gore. Of Okla
hurna. was in conversation with Am
bassador Bakhmetef ON the night u
the downfall Of Herensky.
IF il is true" said the oklahoma
Senator. that the old Kerensky re-
Eime is being kept alive in WASH
ington with the money Of our al
ready Overburdened taxpayers, such
( a course is absolutely ineNcusable
! for our government to pursue The
/ former Russian rule can never be
.re-established. 4 new government
has been established, and whether II
is the kind OF a government that We
in America favor is certainly no
concern OF ours. They didn't try
to tell us what kind OF a govern
ment we should have II - piJITul
Ito see their enormous business
TUNED fromy our doors while we so
. 50
necessary for the United States 10
grant official recognition 10 the Rus
sian government in order 10 help
our farmers and others market their
products with country in need Of
these commodities"
The Treasury Version
Treasury officials. in explanation
Of the situation. said yesterday the
credits advanced to the Kerensky
government in 1917 were war cas-
.iualties," such as were suffered by
other nations except Italy. The
turnover Of Russian war materials,
contractors charges for which were
checked of against credits estab-
lished increased the funds on which
the embassy may now be operated, it
was explained.
Senator Norris resolution asks.
"I. Are United States funds being
I used directly or indirectly to sup
Ucrt or maintain an embassy in
Washington representing the So
| called kerensky. government, and
If so. how much money has been
thus expended. and on what author
ity?
- Was money advanced from the
/ Treasury Of The United States TO
I establish a credit on behalf OF the
/ Kerensky government and, IL 50,
in what amount End for what pur-
pose was il used?
"3. What amount OF money II any,
does the Kerensky government owe
the United States government, how
is II secured, what rate Of interest
does II bear, and when does Il ma
| ture?
Asks About supplies Sota.
- After the downfall OF the
/ Kerensky government did the
| United States purchase war nate
rails or other supplies from the Of
fciaIs Of the Kerensky government
! with funds Of the United States
and II so. what was the nature Of
] the supplies, how much money was
/ paid for them and was the purchase
made at a time when the Keren-
CoNTINUED on PAGE rKKkk