Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
ARTICLE REVEALS
f. RED FUNDS IN u. S.
Ex-Envoy of Soviet Wrote
That Amtorg Company Is
IL Propaganda Agency.

~ the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July l9.--Charges Of
Gregory Bessedovsky. former Soviet
charge daffaires at Paris and Toxic,
that the Moscow government planned
to spend vast sums to foment revolu-
ton in the United States, were placed
before the Special House Communist
, Investigating Committee today by
Police Inspector John A. Lyons of the
Radical Bureau.
article by BeSsedovsky printed in a
Jewish newspaper last March. The
former diplomat, who was refused
entry into the country, accused the
Amtorg Trading Co. of carrying on
propaganda work besides being COM
mercial agency of the Soviet Union.
High officials of the Amtorg Co., the
article said, were sent here in the guiSe
Of commercial agents and were in
structed to permit Soviet agents to
draw funds for propaganda.
Sent Under Disguise.
Directors of the Amtorg are sent to
New York usually under a disguise"
BeSsedovSky wrote, adding that he was
appointed to the directorate of the
concern and instructed to act as an I'M
official ambassador. He was refused
admittance by the Federal Government
with the Soviet.
The Russian. who fed from Paris
and was charged by Moscow with
having taken some funds illegally, said
the Soviets had an unofficial representa-
tive in Washington named Skwirsky.
The Soviets planned, the article con-
tinued, to lay the groundwork for
revolution in the "l2,000,000 discon-
tented Negroes and farmers of the
United States"
Subsidies to the American Communist
party had been increased to 100000
annually, BessedovSky wrote, adding
that emergency funds up to $4,000
each were permitted to be drawn
through the Amtorg, which later would
be reimbursed.
Says Police Active.
The former diplomat also charged
that the Russian secret police were &C
tive in this country, two German reds
whose names he gave as Wagner and
Neiman being sent here to organize the
Communists. Germans we're sent, he
explained, In order that Washington
could not charge Moscow with having
planted them.
After the reading of the article, John
-. 1SdIy u new 4uTh,
of the World, testified that strikes in
itiated by Communists were used as
training grounds for a revolution and
for collection of funds for propaganda.
He said the Communists we're causing
serious trouble in some Of the mining
districts.
Asa p. Randolph of New York, pres
ident of the Brotherhood of Sleeping
Car Porters, said the Communists at
foY1f1faH n HOY4fra1 d0CfFOv HE nr-
sanitation during a strike several years
ago, but had been ousted. They had
been active throughout the country, he
said.
The Communists promised the COL
ored workers to eliminate all racial dis
elimination, he said, but it was doubt
full II the number of colored Com
munists was being rapidly increased,
although he felt there was growing
sympathy in his race for Communism.
People Are Loyal.
Fred r. Moore, colored alderman
from Harlem, testified that "our people
are loyal to the American flag" No
outstanding colored people were con-
nected with the Soviet movement, he
said.
DR.. F. e. Brown of New York, col
ored clergyman. who came from the
ing no inroads on the approximately
$4,000 West Indian colored people in
New York. He said he was Socialist
and had hard time in getting other Of
his race radical enough to join his
party.
The committee recessed until Tues
day, when the representatives Of the
Antorg Co. will be heard. Monday
three of the members of the committee,
Representatives Nelson Of Maine, Eslick
of Tennessee and Hall of Mississippi,
will visit Communist camps at Beacon
and Wingdale, N. Y.
Chairman Fish has issued subpoenas
for approximately 20 colored men and
women identified with the Communist
movement, but most Of them have not
been located.