Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-08
HUGHES GIVEN
ACCOUNTING BY
BAHKMETEFF
Russian Shows How American
Millions Were Spent by
Ministry.
PROPAGANDA is DENIED

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, May S.-Not cent o.
the $1S7 ,72a, T50 advanced the Kerensky
government Of Russia by the United
States was spent to maintain the Rus
sian embassy In Washington or anti
soviet movement in the United States or
elsewhere, Boris Bahkmeteff. Russian am
| bassador, informed Secretary Hughes
and through the State Department, Sen
ator Borah OF Idaho.
Mr.. Bahkmeteff, In letter to the Sec
| rotary of State, categorically denied the
accusations recently made by Senator
Borah to the effect that an accounting Of
the money had not been made and that
the Russian ambassador himself had in
vested large sums ia real estate In New
York, Chicago and other cities.
BoRAH NOT
SATISFIED
The Bahkmeteff statement failed, how
ever, to satisfy Senator Borah and his
attack, which was begun as the result
of his efforts to force the deportation Of
Gen. Gregorie Semenon, the Siberian cos
sack leader, were renewed vigorously.
Senator Borah asserted the Bakhmeteff
statement failed to explain the 1dlsposi-
ton OF at least STS00o.000 Of the total
loan.
Ia his communication to Secretary
Hughes the Russian ambassador asserted
that most Of the Russian loan was spent
In the United States before the fall Of
| the Kerensky government.
| The Russian ambassador also quoted
from a report Of subcommittee of the
| Senate Labor Committee April IA. 1920,
Investigating Russian prope ganda In
which 1t was ack nowledged that 1.-The
maintenance of the recognized Russian
embassy IN this country, and the carrying
on its related activities, are provided for
by funds accruing from loan privately
negotiated In this county and in Eng
land"
REFERS To INSIDE
INFORMATION.
Recent reference by Senator Borah
that much OF his inside information on
the activities of abe Russian embassy
and it's financial affairs came from "a
Greek priest" was answered by Mr..
Bakhmeteff as follows:
'As is wei known, Russian church af-
fairs in the United States have been in
a deploraba condition since the Boil
shevist revolution. Various factions ex-
ist within 1t. Appropriations in the past
came from the Russian Holy Synod. To
protect the church properties here from
foreclosure, q private corporation, the
| Russian Church Relief Corporation was
organized. The papers duly filed In pub
lie offices. but no assistance was given
I the corporation from American or other
/ LIQUIDATION funds. There Is still an
other known a the Russian Aid Society
which draws from private funds wholly.
No INTEREST
IN REAL.
Il have no interest whatsoever, in the
stock or the real estate of these corpora
/ lions. l have never acquired real es
| tate In New York, or In Chicago. In my
! name either with United States funds. or
the name Of any corporation or under any
| guisc whatever"
Regarding General semenotf, Mr.. Bakh-
metef said:
| THE State Department knows that
! have had no connection with General
1 SenenoR and am not associated with
/ him IN any way. As a matter OF fact
! / knew nothing of his intended visit to
I this country I knew and know nothing
OF Semenoff's plans It's true that Sem
! enof called on me. Practically every
| Russian, othar than those who favor the
! restoration Of the old regime or are In
sympathy with the Bolsllevtsts, call at
the embassy when they visit Washing
J ton I communicated TO the Department
| of State the circumstances under which
! I received Semenoff and of the valuable
| Information / obtained from him with
respect 10 conditions In tho Far East