Evening star., 1938-01-18
MRS. RUBENS HELD
IN MOSCOW JA|L,
U. SIS INFORMED
Soviet Officials Advise She
Is Being Quizzed on Sus-
pected Espionage.
INTERVIEW IS ASKED
BY SECRETARY HULL
Robinson Also Is Under Arrest
in Bizarre Passport
Mystery.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Soviet foreign ONCE informed
the United States Government TO-DAY
that Mrs. Ruth Marie Rubens was un-
der arrest In Moscow and UNDERGOING
questioning in connection with sus-
pected espionage.
The woman, an American citizen
has been the subject of an investiea-
ton by the State Department since
she disappeared mysteriously in Mos
COW last month.
In an oral reply to an American
note Of January requesting informa-
ton as to Mrs. Rubens' whereabouts
the Soviet foreign once informed Loy
Henderson, the American Charae
dAnaires in Moscow, that the woman
was arrested following the arrest Of the
man with whom she entered the Soviet
Union under the name Of "Mr. and
Mrs. Donald L. Robinson"
Robinson" the foreign office said
1t was informed by the Soviet secret
police, was arrested at Sverdlovsk on
suspicion Of espionage.
Examination Continued,
1t added that while the investiga-
ton has not progressed sufficiently
to warrant placing . formal charge
OF that nature against Mrs. Rubens,
the examination Of her by the author
tiles is being continued.
Immediately on receipt of this in
formation, Secretary Hull dispatched
instructions to the Embassy at Mos
COW to request the Soviet govern
ment's permission to interview Mrs.
Rubens.
The case has presented a bizarre
passport mystery since the disap-
pearance Of the "Robinsons" in Mos
COW in November precipitated an in
vestigation which disclosed that they
had obtained their American pass
ports In the names Of persons dead
for many years.
Efforts to identify the couple LED
investigators to establish that Mrs
Robinson" actually Is an American
citizen whose real name is Mrs
Rubens.
How she came to be travelling on the
passport issued in the name Of Mrs
Robinson" is q detail not yet cleared
up. Neither have American authori-
ties been able to establish the identity
and nationality Of Robinson"
Entered Soviet Union ILLEGALLY.
The Soviet Foreign Once informed
the American Embassy, however, that
1T Is clear she (Mrs. Rubens) entered
the Soviet Union Illegally"
The foreign ONCE told the embassy
that early in November the couple
registered at the National Hotel In
Moscow bearing passports identifying
them Is 'Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Rob-
inson." Their activities were 80 un-
usual, it was said, that they attracted
the attention of the Soviet internal
authorities (the secret police).
In mid-November, the foreign once
said, Robinson" disappeared from the
hotel, and when his wife was asked for
information concerning him, she in
formed the secret police that he had
gone to q hospital, the name of which
she did not know.
The suspicious Of the Soviet police
were heightened when q search Of all
hospitals In the vicinity Of Moscow
failed to reveal any trace of the miss
ing man.
In early December a man detained
for examination In Sverdlovsk was
found to be in possession of numerous
passports Of various countries, includ-
ing an American passport issued in the
name Of Robinson" the foreign Office
said,