NEW BOLSHEVIK TACTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17328, 27 November 1919, Page 7

NEW BOLSHEVIK TACTICS.

~»> . PROPITIATING THE ALLIES. PARLIAMENT MOOTED. INCLUSION OF OPPONENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association— (Received 8.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 22 (delayed). Reports from Russia indicate that the Bolshevik leaders, influenced by the recent veerings in the British attitude, are now planning a change of tactics, reviving the idea of the election of a constituent assembly, the abolition of extraordinary commissions, and the formation of a new Government, including the Menshevik leaders. ANXIOUS FOR PEACE. DEBT TO BE RECOGNISED. A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Nov. 25. • Ludwig Martens, Russian Soviet " Ambassador," who was recently arrested by the United States authorities, confessed to bribing Mr. Malone, ex-Collector of Customs in j New York, to allow shipments of j food and chemicals to Petrograd. Martens asserted that the Lenin I Government intended to recognise j the Imperial Russian debt. i Martens also stated that Lenin ' and Trotzky no longer preached an : anti-capitalistic world war, but in- ' stead were anxious to make compromises with the other nations in the hope of securing a renewal of friendly relations. Ludwig Martens was recently arrested in consemience of his refusal to appear ! before the Legislative Committee •which ! is investigating radical activities in the ! United States. j In March last Martens issued a statei ment in New York to the effect that he i was the official representative in the • United States,, of Ueorge Tchitcherin, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the LeninTrotzky Government, and that he was prepared to open trade relations with tho United States on behalf of the Soviet Government, guaranteed by a deposit of j P00.000,000 dollars in gold. His creden- ! tials, signed by Tchitcherin, and bearing ; the seal of the Russian Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, were sent to the Actingi Secretary of State on the same date. I Martens subsequently opened offices in I New ioik as official envoy of ti7e Soviet I Government, with various departments I and an official staff. The credentials pre- | sented by Mart-ens were not recognised I by the Washington Government otherwise : than by an acknowledgment of receipt. i He announced, however, that he had re ! ceived many offers from American manu- ! facturers looking to the resumption of ! trade relations, and that one of his first steps would be to gain control of all property and money in America formerly be- . longing to the Government of the Czar i or to the Governments of Miliukov and ! Kerensky. The total value of this proj perty, he stated, was 000.000 dollars. j Martens sent a demand to Boris Bakhmetetf. Russian Ambassador to Washing- ! ton. calling for the surrender of tne j embassy building and all its furniture and | archives and all moneys in this country i belonging to the. former Government of I Russia. Similar demands were made on j Russian Consul Generals in other cities.