Evening star., 1922-04-30
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

o ambassador to the United
: I'M States has occupied a more
strange position than that of
Boris Bakhmeteff. ambassa-
dor extraordinary and plenipoten-
,tiary. in the language of diplomacy,
of Russia. Without a government be-
hind him at home since the fall of
the Kerensky government in the au-
tumn of 1911, he has continued in the
United States as the ambassador of
Russia and is recognized as such by
the American government today. lie
Is. indeed. the ambassador without a
government. :
When July rolls round-provided
Mr.. Bakhmeteff is still recognized as
the Russian ambassador at that time
-he will have occupied that position
for five years, and it is more than
four years since the government
which sent him here fell. July 5, 1917.
the Russian ambassador presented his
credentials to President Wilson.
His Diplomatic Status
OAcially QuestiOned.
The official status, of Ambassador
Bakhmetetf was questioned recently
by Senator Borah of Idaho and Sena-
s=r Norris of Nebraska. The former.
as osaTman of the Senate committee
on eoHoation and labor, summoned Mr.
Bakhmeteh to appear before that
committee in the investigation of
Gen., Semenoff. the anti bolshivik
leader. whose deportation from the
United States has been urged in some
quarters. The matter was called to
the attentioL Of the State Department.
and Secretary Hughes. in a letter to
the Vice President. presiding officer
of the Senate. called attention to the
fact that this government continues
to recognize Mr. Bakhmeteff as am
bassador and as such he was immune
from summons by congressional
committee. :
But this mere statement OF the fact
by Secretary Hughes has not satisfied
Senator Borah and he plans within
the next few days to discuss the mat
ter on the floor sof the Senate. He
probably will introduce a resolution
calling upon the State Department
for further information regarding
the status of Mr. Bakhmeteff and the
government which he is supposed to
represent heye.
Question NJ - Funds
Supporting r.mbassy. So
One of th1 features of the case of
the Russian ambassador, which the
Idaho senator probably: will go into
in his discussion and in his resolu-
tion is the source of the funds upon
which Mr.. Bakhmeteff continues to
live in Washington and to occupy a
handsome residence on 10th street
1125 18th street. to be exact. 1t will
be- remembered that in 1917. when
Kerenskys government was in the
saddle in Russia, and Russia was still
fighting the Germans on the side of
the United States and the allies, a
credit of $1s7. 100000 was extended to
the Kerensky government by the
United states. the money being part
of the loan to the allied nations au-
thorized under the liberty bond acts.
Some of this money was used for
contracts for materials in this coun-
try for the Russian government. But
the fall of the Kerensky government a
few months after it's establishment
and the rise of the red revolution put
greater part Of the goods never left
this country. What has become of
the remainder of the $187,000,000
loaned the Kerensky government is
matter that has several times
caused some discussion in this coun-
try, but very little light has been
shed on the matter. But the sup
position of Senator Borah and others
is that Ambassador Bakhmeteff-the
ambassador without government-is
being supported here by money
loaned by the United States govern
tment.
SugEestiOn OF Purpose
In His Recognition.
in some quarters
here the belief is expressed that the
continued recognition of Mr.. Bakh-
meter as ambassador of Russia has
M; financial angle-that this govern
lment is anxious to settle up some
s1hancial matters before any change
III his status takes place. Indeed,
there is some speculation as to what
Ebecomes of the $1S7.000.0OO loan, or
ZYhat is left of it, should this gov
Nefnment determine suddenly that 1t
ScAn no longer recognize Mr.. Bakh-
as the Russian ambassador
tecause he does not represent the
government. This is tidy
sam. The United States. it is true.
EBas never recognized the Russian
Soviet government. But il 1t did.
2#ould 1t look to that government to
repay the loan made to the Keren-
zsky government? Probably SO.
M MMr. Bakhmeteff Is the last of the
of the Russian pre-
soviet government recognized by any
~ the powers. In London. Toxic
and other capitals recognition of
these diplomats has been withdrawn.
Recently. however. report has come
to Washington that q Russian by
sbe name Of Smifnoff, who was diplo-
matte representative or agent of the
Russian government in Cairo. Egypt.
under the old regime and then under
the Kerensky government. is now
planning to set himself up as Rus
sian minister to Egypt. since that
country is to be accorded inde-