Author Description

Excerpt from Russian Propaganda Report, 1920 In consequence, it is unnecessary to go beyond the record to sustain the findings of the committee further than to point out certain inevitable and wholly warrantable deductions. Following seriatim the items of inquiry enumerated in the resolution of the Senate, the status of Martens is disclosed by the testimony under several heads: (1) What alleged Government or power in Europe does he represent? His credentials (p. 14) were issued by the "People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs" of the "Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic," from Moscow under date of January 2, 1919. They were signed by G. Chichearin, "People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs," and were sealed with the official seal of the commissariat. This Government, as was brought out in the course of the testimony (p. 23), was set up in November, 1917, by a counterrevolution to the movements of March in that year, which had accomplished the overthrow of the dynasty and government of the Roman off Czars. This republic operates under a constitution, by the terms of which (p. 160) "all property rights in the land, treasures of the earth, water, forest, and fundamental natural resources within its boundaries are abolished": which confirms "the transfer of all banks into the ownership" of the Government; by which there "pass over without indemnification to the disposition of the county, provincial, regional, and Federal Soviets," all private live stock and inventoried property of nonlaboring homesteads; and under which "private merchants, trade and commercial brokers" (p. 162): "monks and clergy of all denominations" (p. 194), and in general all persons who do not "perform useful, social functions" (p. 163), have no right either to vote or to be voted for. For instance (p. 39) Martens explained that a man who owns a farm in Russia and who leases it to another may not vote or be voted for. Under this constitution all banks were c