New-York tribune., 1922-06-05
Ambassador Without Gov
ernmentio OUTPOST June
30; Gets Clean Bill on
1877 Million u. :. Loans
No Recognition of
Red Regime Implied
Embarrassment Of BOrah
Attacks Ended. and Aid
Will Take Over Property
BY Carter Field

WASHINGTON. June { Boris Bakh
mcicn. of Russia. who FOR nearly FIVE
year, has been an ambassador without
government. will end that relation
ship or June 20. the State Department
announced tonight
In giving out ths letters exchanged
Vith regard 20 this termination Of Of
fee the state Department made the
aat statement that the action had moth.
ing 20 do vi'h the question Of reeogniz.
ing Soviet Russia. which" the state
ment concluded. "is an entirely scpa-
rate matter"
On the contrary. 'he recognition
which this country gave 20 tho gov
eminent which originally sent Bakhme-
tef here and 70 The Kerensky govern
ment. which subsequently accredited
him by cable is specifically maintained
by the formal recognition Of a member
n Bakhmetef's staff who will carry on
his work here. This is Serge Cghet,
financial attache Of the embassy. %
whom Secretary Of State Hughes wrote
20 M Bakhmetef:
"Mr. Ugnets diplomatic status with
ibis government will not be altered By
tho termination Of your duties and he
will continue 70 enjoy the usual diplo-
matte privileges and lmmunities'
The letter Of Bakhmetef suggesting
that he would retire as ambassador is
dated April :.
"The work Of liquidation has now
been brought 10 a practical close he
wrote Mr, Hughes on this date. 81 am
prepared. if the United States govern
mcnt 30 desires. 20 retire and termi-
nate my Official functions
Followed Borah Attack
This letter was written after Senator
Borah and others had begun their criti-
cism OF Bakhmcteif's status and his
expenditures Of money obtained from
the United States Treasury on loans
made 10 government In Russia now
almost five years defunet These at
tacks became particularly bitter be-
cause Of the visit to this country Of
General Semcnof.
Senator Borah. who has been at the
front OF the fight against Bakhmetef,
declined 20 comment tonight until he
should have had an opportunity 20
study the letters. Observers pointed
out. however. that Mr.. Borah. while
accomplishing the chief ostensible pur-
pose OF his drive. the elimination Of
Bakhmetef, has not accomplished his
main objective. This would be 20 clear
the way for recognition OF the Soviet
government.
In formally recognizing and granting
diplomatic privileges and immunities
20 one Of Bakhmctef's staff the gov.
ernment is leaving that situation abso-
lutely unchanged. Also. IL is pointed
out letters exchanged by Secretary
Hughes and Secretary OF the Treasury
Mellon. also made public tonight, give
Mr. Bakhmetcf a clean bill OF health
so FAR as the obtaining money from the
United States Treasury on account OF
the Russian loans is concerned. This
answers fatty and eategorically the
charges made By Senator Borah.
Case Most Unusual
The case Of BakhmetcH is pcrhaps
ono OF the most curious in diplomatic
history. Sent 90 this country imnedi-
atcly after tho overthrow Of the Gar.
the government which dispatched MIN
was oyerthrown before he arrived in
tie United States. This was AZ the
time when missions from the various
allies were coming IN Washington, lust
after Americas entry into the war In
1917. hakhmetef headed the Russian
mission. and was quartcrcd for while
in the residence Of Henning Jennings.
at Sheridan Circle here. Bakhmetef
presented hia credentials however. not
only as head OF the mission but as the
new nmbafs sador. taking the place o.
his kincmah Of the same name. who
for many years had been the ambassa-
dor of tho Cars government.
Kcrensky. VINO meantime had come
into power in Russia, sent cable 10
the State Department accrediting Bakh-
metef. who thereupon was officially
recognized and moved down into the
old imperial embassy building on Six
teenth Street. ore Of the handsomes,
residences in town.
Fought Bolshevih
There he and his staff have been ever
since. for nearly five years. although
Kerensky was overthrown almost imme-
diately thereafter. For long time
while the powers we're hoping 10 see
Lenine and Trotzky overthrow, first by
one man anu NHt" au'N"Ntf '.n'.'tNNN.
co-operatod with other pre-Bolshevik
Ambassadors sent out az the same time
as himself 10 other countries in their
attempts 10 aid in this overthrow. So
that so far from representing a gov
eminent. Bakhmetcf was actually at
tempting TO aid IN smashing the de
facto government OF his country. Wash
ington sympathized heartily with the
proceedings, so that did not affect
Bakhmetef's cordial relations with the
State Department or with the diplo-
consisuss ea Fase fw