Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-03
SENATOR ACCUSES
RED CROSS OFFICER
France Asserts Dr.. {. D. Ryan
lnstigated Revolt in kron-
stadt Last Winter
ADMITS HE HAS NO PROOF

Riga, Aug. 3.--Prior to his depart
ure for Berlin last night, Senator
Joseph I. France. of Maryland, per-
sonally accused DR.. Edward w. Ryan,
American Red Cross Commissioner in
tho Baltic States, of having instigated
the revolt at Kronstadt last winter.
Thereupon DR.. Ryan expressed his
opinion of the Senator's credence in
what DR.. Ryan termed Bolshevik re-
ports and Of the Senator's dealings
with the Bolsheviki in general. Qucs-
toned concerning the incident. DR..
Ryan said:
'The charge is ridiculous. The Sem
ator must have been raving."
The row arose when the Senator
sent for Colonel Ryan. just before
going to the station and accused him.
on the basis of statements by the Soviet
Foreign Minister, of organizing the
Kronstadt revolt Senator France
threatened him with exposure before
the Senate and with prosecution under
the American laws. for fomenting a
rebellion against a great and friendly
country"
Threatened to Punch Senator
Colonel Ryan, smarting under the
injustice of what he insisted was an
utterly unfounded charge. and still
more under the Senator's tutorial
manner and the irritating shakes of a
DIR. Munyon finger. with which Sen
ator France accompanied his rcbukes,
threatened. it is understood. to punch
Senator Frances head. He arraigncd
the Senator for taking the word of
ministers whose hands are dripping
with the blood OF thousands of women
obi Of
American Red Cross representative.
Overt hoStilites were avcrted BY a
member of the American commission,
who saw to il that Senator Franco and
Colonel Ryan occupied separate auto
mobiles on the drive to the station.
The controversy was resumed on the
station platform. Colonel Ryan by this
time having assumed domination of the
verbal battle and doing most of the
talking.
Senator Did Not Explain
From among American representa-
tives who had gone to the hotel 10 con
voy Senator France and his party
something was learned of the genesis
and progress of the conflict. which had
been carried on partly in the privacy
Of the Senator's room and partly in
the corridors and stairs before a gap
ing audience Of hotel servants and
guests. 1t is only fair to state that
the Senator'S side of the story was
not heard, owing to his departure.
It seems that the Senator was tnr-
nishcd with details Of the charges in
Moscow. where the Soviet authorities
are extremely bitter against Colonel
Ryan for reports he is understood to
have made to Washington after his
visit to Russia last year; but he kept
silent until the very last hour of his
stay, when he sent for Colonel Ryan,
who had been dining with Mrs. Mar
guerite +. Harrison. the Baltimore
newspaper woman. who had just been
released after nine months passed In
Soviet prisons and proceeded to empty
the vials of his wrath.
All Hotel Heard Battle
According TO the version obtainab,e
here, he Young manned" Colonel Ryan
into fury and demanded whether he was
not aware that there were American
laws covering such Ofrcnses against O
friendly country and declared that d
different wind was now blowing il
Washington since the change in Admin
istration, and he was apt to be called
TO account for his miSdeeds. Colone
Ryan rPtOrted with equal heat and tn,
sounds of the controversy reSoundeC
throughout the hotel. and lasted unit
few minutes of train time and unit
the members of the American commits
sion, beginning to fear the Senate
would miss his train. hurried the still
angry altercators into automobiles.
The Senator. 1t is understood. ad
mitted he as yet had no proofs for hi
accusations but that Chicherin. Sovie
Foreign Minister. had promised to for,
ward them to him from Moscow. Col
onel Ryan for his part. said the ac
cusation. which had been aired earle
by Soviet sympathiZers in Russia ant
in Paris. was devoid of the slightes
foundation.
Must Have Been "Raving''
He said he was not on the Balti
even, but in Paris. when the revolt oc
Cured. and that tho Senator mus
have been raving" TO accept such
story as true. American official repre-
sertativcs here said they believed ther
were no grounds for the charges agains
Colonel Ryan, although it seems that
man purporting TO have American Re
Cross credentials did penetrate int
Kronstadt during the fighting
The action of the Rcd Cross in feed
ing Kronstadt refugees after the col
lapse of the revolt appears to have bee
another ground for the Sovjet's indig
nation against the Red Cross