Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-18
GEN. SEMENOFF
WAS PLANNING 4
REVOLT, CHARGE
Intended to Meet Grand
Duke Nicholas in Paris to
Lay Plans for An Up
rising Against SovietS.
{By The Associated Press. }

Washington. April 17.-Appear-
ing before the senate labor COM
mittee today in connection with its
inquiry into the Siberian activities
lof General Gregorie Semenoff, now
under civil arrest in New York,
Commissioners General Husband os
the bureau of immigration told how
!the anti-bolshevik leader had been
permitted to enter the United
States at Seattle after landing at
Vancouver, from steamer which
he had boarded at q Chinese port,
land submitted, through official
documents and messages, the sug-
gestion that Semenoff intended to
go to Paris to meet the Grand
Duke Nicholas to lay plans for a
revolution against the Russian
Isoviets.
His Plans Revealed.
The suggestion Of Semenoffs
plans for going to Paris was con-
tained in a message from Inspec-
tor Zurbrick at Vancouver, who
added that the generals testimony
before q board Of inquiry at Van
'couver indicated that he intended
during his visit to Washington to
Establish connections for future use,
especially as applying to the de-
Ivelopment of trade relations. Sem
enoff was finally admitted to the
United States "for transit purposes"
on his trip to Paris and MIR Hus-
band, through his testimony be-
fore the committee indicated that
the immigration authorities had No
alternative in the case except "ar-
bitrary disbarment" and were pow
erless under the law.
While Mr.. Husband was before
the committee, information was
supplied by the state department 10
the effect that Secretary Hughes
was prepared to, intercede in behalf
of Boris Bakhmeteff, the last ac-
credited Russian ambassador, who
has been subpoenaed to testify be-
fore the committee. 1t was under
stood that attention of the commit
tee would be called to the usua.
diplomatic immunity granted for
reign representatives.
Although the kerensky regime
which sent NJ. Bakhmeteff here, dis
appeared five years ago, he still is
listed in official records as the Rus
sian ambassador. At present he is
at Charleston, S. G., for rest and
recreation"
In addition to Mr.. Husband,
Ralph l.. Baggs of New York, q
former American army lieutenant
with the forces in Siberia. was be-
fore the committee. His testimony,
which was said not to refute that
recently given before the commit
tee by Major General Graves. the
Siberian expedition commander. or
Lieutenant Colonel Charles II. Nor
row, his chief aide, was said to be
intended to do "justice to the Rus
sian officer i'll so far as the wit
ness saw events there. He declared
that at times the policy appeared
to be "an eye for an eye" but de-
MED general massacres had taken
place in the area where he was
stationed. Mr.. B1ggs credited Sem
enoff with having checked pog-
IRONS and said that conditions under
the general were better than when
the bolsheviki held sway,
Change of Sentiment
In some instances. he added. the
activities of the bolsheviks were
such that retaliation was almost
justified" BY W. of reply to tes-
timony previously given the COM
mittee, he declared that early I'M
1919 there was a change of senti-
ment among the Semenoff forces
toward the Americans who, he said,
were looked upon as giving moral
announcement to the reds by not
engaging against them actively
Asked by Chairman Borah for a
further statement as to the change
he noted in the Russian sentiment,
Mr.. Baggs said he believed it was
because "our purpose there never
was stated
Mission Not Made Public.
'I could not tell them" he con-
tinued, "for l was not advised.
There never was a statement from
my superiors as to what our mis-
sion was, and I do not believe they
ever had any expression from their
chiefs either. All l ever could tell
them was that the Americans were
there to give economic aid, but
when we made no declaration of
purpose, the anti-bolsheviki groups
became suspicious. Il
"And when you got back home
Mr.. Borah interjected, did you
learn why you had been there? We
here did not know"
The answer of the witness. NO.
was drowned with laughter.