Evening star., 1937-01-24

An informal committee Of Wash
ington newspaper correspondents was
formed yesterday to call on Alexander
Troyanovsky. Ambassador of the
Soviet Union, for information con-
cerning the arrest in Moscow of
Vladimir Ronm in connection with
the trial of II alleged conspirators
against the Russian government.
Romm, who had served as CORE
spondent here for the Soviet organ,
Isvestia, has been under arrest ap-
parently for nearly two months, al
though he is not listed as one of the
defendants.
Unable to believe he had been COM
promised in any way in any alleged
plot against the present Soviet regime.
the committee of correspondents hope
to have an audience with Troyanovsky
today or tomorrow.
Informally, also, Joseph E. Davies,
newly arrived American Ambassador
to Moscow, who yesterday listened to
a session Of the trial, is being asked
unofficially by the group to gather
additional information on Romm S
position.
Romm, who had lived here with his
wife and 12-year-old son at 1885 r
street, was called to London by
Izvestia early in November, presum-
ably because of changes in assign
ments due to European news devel-
opmentS. Later he went on 10
Moscow.
Washington correspondents who
had known him personally we're
shocked yesterday to read reports
from Moscow of testimony associat-
ing Romm with the alleged conspiracy
to partition valuable Russian lands
between Germany and Japan.
The dispatches said Karl Radek, a
principal defendant. who has been
a writer for Izvestia, had testified
Romm had aided in establishing con-
tact with Leon Trotzky, now in exile
In Mexico. Trotzky denied this yes
terday III Mexico. Radek also was
reported to have testified that Romm
at one time had carried a letter from
him to Trotzky.
Leading Writers on Committee.
The committee formed to seek light
on Romm's arrest includes Nathan
Robertson, Associated Press. chair
man Of the Standing Committee OF
Correspondents; Charles o. Gridley
Denver Post, president of the National
Press Club; Felix Morley, editor of
the Washington Post; Arthur Krock,
New York Times; j. Fred Essary,
Baltimore Sun; Harold Brayman
Philadelphia Public Ledger; Erwin D
Canham, Christian Science Monitor;
Raymond P. Brandt, st. Louis Post
Dispatch; Jonathan Mitchell, New
Republic, and Ernest K. Lindley, New
York Herald Tribune.
A much larger group, spokesman
said, was ready to join in inquiries il
they could be Of service. Romm was
widely recognized among correspond
ents her as a staunch advocate OF the
Stain regime and policies.
Even the slightest remark in casua
conversation which seemed to question
the policies of the present Soviet re.
gime would bring a prompt defense
from Romm," said one Of the cor
respondents. He did much to ex-
plain the Soviet program and policies
to his associates in the capital"
Romm Cheerful on Departure.
Romm went to London in a cheer
full frame of mind, his fellow writers
here said, and wrote to several Of
them en- route, inviting them to visit
him there.
Romm, who was 40, came to this
country as an Izvestia correspondent
in the Summer of 1884. Previously
he had served for many years as cor
respondent for the Soviet organ at
London, Paris. Geneva and Toxic.
He was o member of the National
Press Club and the Overseas Writer'S
Club.
During his stay in Washington