Sunday, November 19, 2017

Russian Propaganda and Influence: New or Old?


In early 1920, almost 100 years ago there was a Congressional Committee to investigate Russian interference with the US. The charge and conclusions were:



Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations is hereby authorized Is/ directed, through the full committee or through any subcommittee thereof -? investigate as speedily as possible the status of said Martens; what aliped government or power in Europe he represents; what, if any, recognition of any kind has been accorded him by this Government; whether or not li ns an alien enemy ; what propaganda, if any, he is carrying on for the overthrow of governments; and all facts and circumstances relating to his activities in this country and his alleged diplomatic representation, and all facts relative to the activities of any other party, parties, or organization bearing upon or relating to Russian propaganda in this country, and make report to the Senate of such findings.

The said committee is hereby empowered to sit and act at such time and place as it may deem necessary; to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, and documents; to employ stenographers at a cost not exceeding $T per printed page. The chairman of the committee, or unyjmember thereof, may administer oaths to witnesses. Subpoenas for witnesses shall be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or subcommittee thereof. Every person who, having been summoned as a witness by authority of said committee or any subcommittee thereof, willfully makes default, or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the investigation heretofore authorized, shall be held to the penalties provided by section 102 of the Revised Statutes of the United States.
…..

In sum the committee finds in obedience to the instructions of the resolution of the Senate that—
(1) Martens has no status whatever in this country in any diplomatic or other governmental representative quality.
(2) Martens assumes to represent the Russian Federated Soviet Republic—a regime established in Russia by revolution and functioning under a constitution which has been above summarized; a regime which has never been recognized by the Government of the United States and which in international law has no standing as a constituted authority.
(3) Martens has received no recognition officially or even provisionally by the Government of the United States.
(4) Martens, by the accepted practice of this Government or its treaty or other international obligations and usages, is a ( man subject, and in consequence an alien enemy.
(5) Martens’s propaganda in this country for the overthrow governments is established by his own testimony, as shown in body of the report, that he has publicly associated and sympathy with those advocating such a course. He admitted to the committing his persistent revolutionary character, his desire to see the establishment of the “ dictatorship of the proletariat ” in all lands, his opinion that it would be better for this country if the soviet government were established here. It was also proved that he tinned to employ in the staff of his embassy persons who have  publicly and in his presence advocated the bringing of bolshevism America and he admitted to the committee that “ any means w would produce this condition would be justified.”

Namely the individual Martens was placed in legal limbo utimately leading no where. So what is old is new again. It is worth reading this entire file if one is interested. This has been going on from the beginning.