The New York herald., 1921-08-14
SEEK TO PREVENT
SMUGGLING HERE OF
RUSSIAN JEWELRY
American Protective Asso-
citation Advertises in Lon
don $4,000 Reward.
SOVIET AGENTS ACTIVE
Reported Travelling to United
States as Immigrants, Con-
cealing Gems.
Special Cable to THE New York HERALD
Copyright, 1891, by THE NEW York HERALD
Nevv vorIr HsraId Rureor

Special Gable to THE New York HERALD
Copyright, 1891, by THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Londsn, Aug. 13.
All the old stories about the man
ncr in which the Bolshevili disposed
Of the Russian crown jewels have
been revived and many now versions
have been added as the result of an
advertisement appearing In London
on behalf of the American Jewellers
Protective Association, which offers
reward Of $4,000 for information
leading to the arrest and conviction
OF any one smuggling into the United
States without payment of duty
pearls, diamonds and precious stones
amounting to not less than $4,000 in
value.
English Jewellers say this Is only an
other proof that the Soviets have been
disposing of $50. 900 worth of gems In
whatever markets they can find and
they conclude that a certain amount OF
them have been smuggled into the
United States and are affecting the
have affected the market here
BoIshevist Diamonds I'm London.
They say that there are more than
0<.n nm szA II,
in the hands Of London dealers and fur
ther instalments are expected. They
figure that In the last few months Lon
don has absorbed over 100000 worth
of Russian Jewels.
A prominent London jeweller says
that he understands the question is a
grave one for American jewellers, for
with any organized smuggling their
business with its high duties will be
greatly disturbed. It Is known here
that Bolshevist agents at Reval had.
this jeweller says. Jewels worth f7.000.-
900 taken from banks and private citi-
zens. He says that one of his clients
was shot in his office in Moscow and
all his jewels were taken from him. He
y
America as immigrants. concealins
stones of great value. He says that one
man could hide away four large stones
worth $4,000. the entry of which free
of duty would shake the American dia-
mond market.
He explains that one OF the reasons
there is slump In the diamond market
in Europe Is that diamonds can be
bought cheaply at Reval. with the pos
sibility OF immense profit IL the paying
OF duty Is escaped.
Ingenuity In Smuggling.
Jewellers here say that they have beer
advised from New York of the grea
ingenuity that has been shown in SNUG
Cling. Diamonds have been hidden II
walking sticks, in the lining of clothes
In the heels and soles of shoes. II
watches and in picture frames. Ever
dogs have been used in the traffic b,
being made to swallow stones. At othe
times. diamonds worth hundreds of thou
sands of dollars have been taken II
openly as necklaces worn by womer
who claimed them as personal property
special despatch published in TIL,
New YORK HERALD several months az,
gave warning that Russian crown Jewel,
had been released to private buyers
There is no duty on precious stones II
England. but the local market has fel
the strain Of the sudden dumping. Many
stones show signs of having been tori
from settings. as they were damageC
thereby. Others are Of inferior quality
but many are of such distinct siz.
and cut that they are readily recognized
as the former property of the Russian
royal family.
question that this trade has been goins
on and they feel that they can fully
explain the complaints from America
They predict further smuggling on q
largo scale unless American custom.
officials are more alert.