The New York herald., 1921-07-28
FREE U. S. CAP7|VES,
|. HUGHES TELLS REDS
Secretary Follows Hoover's
Proposal by Peremptory De-
mand for Release.
CAUSES ALARM IN RUSSIA
Men Held in Moscow Prison
Said to Be Kept for 'Ex-
changing for Others.
CAUSES ALARM IN RUSSIA
BIZ the Associated Press.

RIGA, Letvia, July 27.-The oficial
demand by Secretary of State Hughes
for the release of the American pris-
oners in Russia was handed by Con-
sui Albrecht to Leonid Stark, the Boil
shevik Minister In Reval, last night in
the absence of Maxim Litvinoff, the
chief of Soviet Legations abroad. The
communication reads:
THE American Government is ad-
vised that despite the repeated efforts
of DR.. Nansen on It's behalf to secure
the release of the American prisoners
in Russia they are still held In a most
serious plight.
"In the name of humanity the Amer
loan Government demands Of the Soviet
authorities that these prisoners be at
once released. It is manifestly impos-
sible for the American authorities 20
countenance measures for relief OF the
distress in Russia while our citizens
are detained"
In both Rolshevik and American Off
cial circles here the note of Secretary
Hughes. Immediately following the note
of Herbert Hoover to Maxim GorlSy. Is
considered as being charged with in
finite possibilities.
Some American officials In the Baltic
States. who have long known the serious
plight Of the American prisoners In
Soviet Russia. have urged the State de-
partment at Washington to adopt a
strong policy looking TO their release
One Bolshevist view of the clause in
Mr. Hoover's communication making aid
contingent upon the release OF American
prisoners is expressed in an editorial
charge OF relief work. Gorky will SUI
pervise propaganda abroad.
without knowing whether more
In the Novy Put. which is published
by the Soviet legation here.
In the Novv Put, which is published
The replacing Of Maxim Gorky by
Kamenoff is said 10 be due to the desire
TO have an experienced executive in
tries, or what crimes are charged aga inst
them. Mr.. Hoover never has demanded
Of any other country the release Of a
prisoner as the price for feeding chill
dren," II says. The newspaper asserts
that II Mr.. Hoover really wants to aid
the children and invalids of Russia moth
Ing would De simpler than TO use the
machinery constructed by public fSoviet)
committees. around which he could coll
lect enough OF the cultured forces Of
Russia 10 dispense with the American
agents and their dictation as 70 how this
or that local committee shall be formed. :"
Virtually all the privileges requested
by Mr.. Hoover, 1t says, already have
been granted. To the All-Russian Fam
inc Relief Committee OF sixty-three
representatives.. embracing all the po-
litical factions In Russia. has been given
the widest powers to relieve the situa-
ton. NJ. Kalinin, head OF the Russian
Central Commission for Famine Relief.
in a decree published In the Provdd
grants the commission priority transport
rights. permission 10 organize all local
committees. freedom 10 purchase In Rus
sia and abroad foodstuffs, medicines and
other necessities, and the right 70 travel
in and out OF Russia
Leo Kameneff, head OF the Moscow
Soviet. has been elected president OF the
commission. and NJ. Rykov, Nikolai Le-
mines first assistant vice. president.
M. Kishkn and NJ. Prokopovitch, for
mer Ministers In tho Kerensky regime
and representatives OF the cooperative
societies have been elected TO member
ahfp in thts cofnntaaiop