Show Old Russian Embassy Stirs Up UpI I est at National Capital Is Property of Government That Does Not Exist Current Washington Washington Current reports re- re regarding re regarding garding carding recognition of the Soviet government o have served to fi fix the attention of the Capital once again on the old Russian embassy That building still stands desolate and untenanted on fashionable SI Six Sixteenth street a few blocks north of the White House ouse The massive granite mansion with Its heavily shuttered windows and boarded doors Is a house with without out a country Its only occupant Is a caretaker Until 1917 1017 It housed the ambassador of the czar of all I the The mansion Is the property of ofa ofa ofa a government which docs does not ex- ex ex exist 1st 1st As far as the United States Is concerned It still belongs to the pro pro- provisional provisional provisional visional government set up under after the fall of the Im- Im Imperial Im Imperial regime for the United States never nc has recognized the government govern government ment of the Soviets Workmen Visit Buildings Recently persons living In the neighborhood of the old embassy were startled to see signs of great activity Moving vans ans backed to the curb and a corps of workmen began loading a 8 number of huge boxes and some furniture taken from the house Word spread rap rap- rapIdly rapidly idly that the building was beIng cleared for a new Dew ambassador from the U S S It R Investigation disclosed however howe that tho the articles being moved mo were personal belon belongings ln s of Serge former financial adviser ad of the us plan us stan embassy here who still Is cus- cus custodian cus custodian of the tho i Kerensky erensky govern govern- government's government's ments ment's property In the United States Mr U het like tho the embassy it- it itself It Itself self has no country In fact fie fieis lieIs Is the diplomatic officer of a 8 non DOD nonexistent nonexistent existent government go But the State Slate department recognizes him as the only Russian diplomat In ID America Under UDder tho the heading Russia In Its officIal diplomatic list the depart department ment meat has always Included Mr lr financial East Cast first EIghty street street New York city In ID 1922 1022 after the fall of the Ker provisional government go Mr Boris then theD ambassador of Russia submitted his resignation tion Fie He suggested that Mr continue to serve ser In ID a diplomatic capacity as custodian of all Russian property In this country It was to be Mr duty to liquidate the property and credit the proceeds against the debt the government had contracted with the United States during the war The Soviets had refused to acknowledge the Indebtedness and their refusal Is re regarded as one ot of othe the primary reasons why this coun coun- country country try has declined to recognize the Soviet regime Since his bis appointment In 1022 State department records show Mr has paid on OD the debt his government go owed the United States States- The debt debt however howe still amounts to of which 7 Is unpaid principal pal and accrued Inter Inter- Interest interest Interest est Most of the obligation was con COD contracted contracted by Russia for the purchase of war supplies In ID this country The property on Sixteenth street the land on which the embassy stands Is not American land As the property of a foreign govern govern- government government ment ment existent or non existent It Is f foreign soil son Immune from taxation and In Invasion aslon by armed force |