Evening star., 1937-12-12
MISSING WRITER
CENTER0F DISPUTE
Copeland Gets Assurance
State Department Is
Investigating.
Sy the Associated Press.

ny tne Associated freSS.
Senator Copeland. Democrat, of New
York. told the Senate yesterday about
the disappearance" Of Donald l..
Robinson, an American writer, and
his wife, in Russia, and received assur-
ances from the State Department that
1t was making every effort to learn
what happened.
The New Yorker asked the Senate
what should be done in the case Of
the disappearance of an American
citizen in foreign land.
Senator Reynolds, Democrat. of
North Carolina had just urged that
United States military forces be with
drawn from the Orient and every ef-
fort made to avoid complications that
might result in war.
Senator Reynolds suggested waiting
until it was learned why the Rob-
insons disappeared.
Il do not want them to disapp
and then learn five years later from
next Wednesday that they were
killed" Senator Copeland retorted. Il
want to know what we shall do about
1t. l am aware of the fact the United
States has given an ultimatum, what
ever that may mean, to the Russian
government"
Referred to State Department.
Senator Connally, Democrat, Of
Texas, member Of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee, asked SEN
ator Copeland If he had taken the
matter up with the State Department.
1T seems to me that if the SEN
ator really wants action he should
talk to the State Department face to
face and not be expecting the State
Department to read the Record (Con-
gressional Record) next week to learn
what the senior Senator from New
York has said about the State De-
partment."
The Texan said Senator Copeland
should go to the department and say
II have two constituents missing in
Russia; for Gods sake send a battle
ship over there and bring them home. *
Senator Copeland accused Senator
Connally of "levity."
The Texan then strobe toward a
cloakroom telephone and announced
he would telephone the State De-
partment.
Senator Connally reappeared and
said the Assistant Secretary Of State
Informed him the department had
been in constant touch with the Amer
ican Embassy in Moscow. State De-
ra -.
Secretary Hull had conferred with
Ambassador Troyanovsky about the
case and was pressing for informa-
ton.
American Security Held Vital.
Senator Copeland told the Senate
Robinson was writer: that he dis
appeared and a few days later his
wife disappeared
After all, an American citizen ought
to be safe wherever he goes and GER
tainly safe in a country supposed to
be friendly country" he said.
1nterrupting debate on the farm
bill, Senator Reynolds said he noticed
some United States troops had been
Withdrawn from the Orient.
We might be involved IN war if
another battleship Maine incident oc-
ours in Asiatic waters" he said.
The Navy disclosed Friday night
that Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, COM
mander of the Asiatic Fleet, had been
empowered to order the return of the
1900 men in the 9Th Marine Bri-
eade when he considered the move
advisable
A spokesman said it was likely the
men would be brought back 10 San
Diego on the Navy transpor. Chau-
mont. due at Shanghai ate next
month. They sailed from San Diego
late in August, when fighting around
Shanghai was at it's height