701.6111/648

Memorandum by Mr. Basil Miles, in Charge of Russian Affairs, Division of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State 19

Internment of L. A. Martens,
Bolshevik Representative at New York

Evidence of German nationality:

1. Registered as a German in August 1914 in England, voluntarily. Applied as a German to leave England for U. S. in November 1915; [Page 147] received British permit to depart as German in December 1915; registered as a German on arrival at New York in SS. St. Louis, January 2, 1916.

This evidence based on official records of London Metropolitan Police and our own Customs and Immigration records at New York.

2. Military Intelligence reports press statements in New York papers, based on interviews with Martens, and other evidence which show that Martens was born of German parents in Bachmut, Russia; that Russian Government refused to naturalize him; that he was subsequently arrested as a revolutionary and when released was brought to Germany where he served his time in the German army; that he was subsequently mixed up in the Russian Revolution of 1905–1906 and escaped to England late in 1906; that he is an engineer by profession and engaged in the manufacture in England of a machine gun which he invented; that he came to the U. S. in 1916 as a representative of the Demidoffs—big munitions makers in Russia; that he was at that time Vice President of the wealthy engineering firm of Weinberg & Posner or else subsequently was given that position in this country.

3. Upon his appointment as representative in America of the Bolshevik Government, he opened an office in New York; among his assistants was included Santeri Nuorteva, a well known radical agitator. The credentials he sent State Department—and which were not acknowledged—were dated at Moscow, January 2, 1919, signed “Chicherin”.

4. Military Intelligence regard work of office established by Martens, although ostensibly economic, as “in reality the largest and most dangerous propaganda undertaking thus far started by Lenine’s party in any country outside of Russia.”

Reasons for Internment:

He is an alien enemy; he is vigorously representing a so-called Government with which the President of the U. S. has said he cannot deal (see Inter-Allied proposal to Kolchak 20); Military Intelligence report he is camouflaging what is in reality a dangerous propaganda; the Government he claims to represent has openly advocated world-wide revolution.

His internment would clearly define this Government’s attitude towards his undertaking; it would give us a hostage in our hands if the Bolsheviks, in fact, start the reprisals they are reported to contemplate because of the raid on his N. Y. office by the local authorities.

[Page 148]

Conclusions:

He should be interned.

The Immigration Bureau of the Department of Labor has informed the Department of State, informally, that the evidence now available is inadequate as yet to warrant his deportation under existing law. It is suggested that this latter question be considered further, either when additional evidence is obtained, or when Congress may provide new legislation.

Basil Miles
  1. Notation on memorandum: “Mr. Polk discussed this at Cabinet today and it was decided to do nothing until further evidence or legislation is obtained. B[reckinridge] L[ong]. 6/24”.
  2. Post, p. 367.