The New York herald., 1922-12-26
Moscow Theater Company De-
clared Bound to Turn Over
Third Of Receipts.
SUPERVISION BY SOVIET
American Defense Society Also
Warns of Propagandism
in Visit.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Dec. 90.
ssscsas Dispatch to THE New Yosx HERALD

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. Dec. 20.
Support from the American public
for the Moscow Art Theater Company,
scheduled to visit this country in the
near future, will mean the contribu-
ton Of large sum Of money to the
Golfers Of the Soviet Government. ac-
cording to a statement issued here to-
night from the headquarters Of the
American Defense Society.
The statement calls attention to the
fact that under regulations issued by
the Soviet regime no artists are per-
mitted to leave Russia without sign
ing contract whereby they are obli-
gated to turn over one-third Of their
earnings to the Moscow Government.
In calling attention to this fact the
society intimates that should the Amer
ican Legion take the same stand in the
case of the Moscow Art Theatre COM
pany as II did in the case OF Nine.
Gadsli. it would prevent expected finan-
cial gain by the Soviet Government.
Conditions of Contract.
Three conditions OF the contract are
given by the society as follows:
!. The artists agree not to conduct
propaganda while In the United States
against the Soviet regime. Special
preference Is shown those who agree
to conduct propaganda for the Soviets.
Q. They agree TO deduct for the
benefit of the State 33 per cent. or
their earnings while In this country.
a. yAt rr tn
at the expiration of their leave.
According 70 tho cabled report the
Defense Society said there was ''strict
provision that every member OF the
party be back in Russia before the end
of next June"
In order 70 justify these demands. Z"
saws the society, "and that certain
artists will not be alarmed ut thus
signing away their receipts TO the
Soviets. the Soviet Government has ap-
pointed a special commission which
supervises the trips and the instruc-
tions to the artists. This committee con-
sists of reliable members of the Rus
sian Communist party.
Connection with Reds.
'.Thc connection between the tours of
tho Russian actors and artists and the
Communist ring In Moscow Is shown In
the certificate Furnished the Russian
Red Cross (an official adjunct of the
Communist governmenD. representative
of the Communist authorities. which,
dated at Moscow, reads:
The special committee for foreign
artistic tours and art exhibitors hereby
certifies that the representative of the
Russian Red Cross In America Is
granted the right to be an agent of the
special committee for arranging in
America appearances of Russian
artists.
1.-The representative of the Russian
Red Cross Is obliged to render TO Rus
Sian artists aid In the judicial defense
of their interests in the event of the vio-
lation of the contract on the part of the
impresario. This Is signed by B. Kras-
sin. acting chairman Of the Special Com
mission
Norris Gest. theatrical Nimpresario,
who is bringing the Moscow Art Thcator
Company TO the United States. last night
scoffed at the charges made by the
American Defense Society at Washing
ton.
"The statement that the Moscow Art
Theater players have agreed to deduct
one-third of their earnings In America
for the benefit of the Russian Soviet
Government Is absolutely false" no as
serted. Every member OF the company
Is as free from politics as a new born
baby They stand clean In artistry, and
/ can personally guarantee that none Of
their money goes for the propagation Of
Sovietlsn My contracts with this COM
pany are open to the American De-
fensc Society"