Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-24
An Outpost of Communism.

In the course of the inquiry by the
House of Representatives committee
making a research into Russian Com
munist activities in this country, Peter
A. Bogdan6v, chairman CT the organi-
cation known as the Amtorg Trading
Corporation, the Soviet commercial
agency in the United States, has been
placed under examination in New York
Denying all allegations to the effect
that from Amtorg headquarters have
gone forth subvcrsive literature that has
been directing radical. Communist agi-
tations. Mr.. Bogdanov shrewdly suggests
that 1t is not good policy fer the United
States to antagonize the Soviet COM
mercial organization here, because it is
the agency of an export trade to Rus
STA now amounting to more than one
hundred million dollars year. Assert
ing that the accusations against Amtorg
are without foundation, Mr. Bogdanov
says that the very fact that they have
been made and widely circulated has
made Amtorg's position difficult and
has hindered it in its work For this
reason we assert" says the Soviet trade
commissioner, that the further de-
velopment and even the continuance of
Soyiet-American trade will be an al
most impossible task unless the sccusa-
tons against the company are thor
oughly investigated by your committee,
and, as we confidently expect them to
be. found to be baseless."
This is what may be called sporting
proposition, virtually a challenge to the
investigating committee to get some
thing" on Aptorg. But there is an i'm
pudent quantity in the challenge. Give
us a clean slate" says Bogdanov in eff
feet. "or we will stop buying from you
We will be the judges of the sufflciency
Of your proof of Soviet propaganda con-
Quoted under the cover Of our CONNER
cial organization"
The bait of trade relations with Rus
STA has been previously dangled before
American eyes as a lure for recognition
OF the Soviet government. In just the
same way the British we're beguiled
when ARGOS was established in London.
Then ARGOS was ratied and tons of sub
versive propaganda: material were found
on the premises and relations were dis
continued. Now they have been re-
sumed. but with better behavior on the
part of the Soviet representation.
The Soviet organization at Moscow
puts money valuation upon American
recognition. 1t has heretofore made
overtures with avowal of the pre-war
loans, in part. as a consideration. Now
q hundred million dollars worth of trade
is mentioned as guild pro quo.
Bogdanoy's status in this country is
one of uncertainty. He is virtually in
the United States on sufferance, for
one of our Federal immigration laws
prohibits the presence here of trade
rer" esentatives Of a country with which
the United States has no formal rela-
tions. BY some hook or crook, Bogda-
nov got visa for entrance, but that
can be Cancelled and his departure ef-
fected If 1t should be deemed good poll
icy to hand him his hat. This has been
stated frankly to him by the investi-
gators at New York, and it is noticeable
that upon that announcement the man
ner of the Russian Soviet trade COM
missioner, which had been unpleasantly
bumptious and defiant, changed greatly.
Whether the propaganda material
should be traced to Amtorg and proved
ON that organization or not, there is no
doubt that the Russian trading group
is established in this country as an out
post Of Communism.