Wife Fights to free Xenophon Kalamatiano

Wife Fights to Free U. S. Attache Held Three Years by Lenine; Prisoner Once Student at Culver Military Academy.

Above--Xenophon Kalamaiano (right), commercial attache to the American Consulate in Russia at the time of the Bolshevik ascendancy, photographed in the Moscow prison together with Washington Vanderlip, American promoter, who was permitted to interview him. Below Kalamatiano before his imprisonment, and Mrs. Catherine Kalamatiano, His Russian wife, who has been tireless in her efforts to secure his release. The prison photo was brought on by Vanderlip.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 17.- One of the most delicate problems confronting the administration and involving the fate of a distin- guished, American, citizen, Kalamatiano, the commercial attache to the 1918 U. S. consulate in Russia, who for three years has been a political prisoner of Lenine.

Action exerted through the former state department was in effectual, but, believing that all expedients have not been exhausted, Mrs. Katherine Kalamatiano relies upon Secretary Hughes to make renewed efforts to have her husband liberated.

Torn with anxiety, worn with ceaseless endeavors, and practically destitute, Mra. Kalamatiano, who lives with her young son, made public the details of her husband's imprisonment and her own experiences - scarcely less tragic than his, as she tells the story.

Well Known in U. S.

Kalamatiano attended school at Bloomington, Ill., went to Culver Military Academy in Indiana for a year, graduated from the University of Chicago, was professor of languages, and then went to Russia to represent American business firms prior to his consular attachment at the beginning of the bolshevik regime.

In 1918, when the soviet agitation against foreigners was at its height, he together with many others, arrested in connection with the celebrated Lockhart-Grenar case, with anti-bolshevik to activities, and condemned death. The sentence later commuted.

Prompt action the British and French governments resulted in the of liberation Lockhart, English diplomatic emissary, and Grenar, French consul-general, through an exchange of prisoners. The American government, however, seemed unable to free its attache, and today he la the last of foreign representatives then arrested who is still in custody.

Held as Pawn.

This, asserts wife, is because the bolsheviki regard him an important hostage whose official connection makes him desirable pawn in the soviet government's hands.

They have proposed release his in return liberation of men they term "political" prisoners in America." according to Mrs Kalamatiano.

Only the most meager information about him has reached his wife, whose wanderings with her son Moscow through Siberia and finally, to America form a somber accompaniment to Kalamatiano's experiences. The latest report was to her by Washington B. Vanderlip, who, during his recent Russian trip, was permitted to interview the attache in his cell at Moscow.

"My husband," says Mrs. Kalamatiano, "doesn't seem to have been mistreated, but his health apparently is badly broken, and he is wondering if his country has forgotten him.

"He placed duty above personal safety, above his family, above everything else, for America. Now America owes it to herself as well as to him to do her utmost for this her servant in a dark hour.

Wife Urges Action.

"Neither he nor I would want anything done to create a stumbling block the path of better relations between the American and Russian people. That was always my husband's great dream and first thought. But I sure there must some way to free him and still keep this consideration uppermost.

"And I am taking this opportunity now to ask the state department and all who are interested in foreign relations and the welfare of Americans abroad to do whatever may seem wise to bring about the liberation of my husband."

In the hope that she can be of more assistance to her husband, and perhaps of some service to the state department, Mrs. Kalamatiano is trying desperately to raise funds to get to Washington. She is earning wage barely sufficient to keep herself and son from day to day.

And that part of Kalamatiano's continued government salary which was forwarded to her for a time after her arrival in the United States has not been reaching her for the past ten months.

Explains Arrest.

Her flight through Siberia ahead cf the advancing bolshevik lines, part of the time as a volunteer Red of Cross nurse, part Co the time under the protection of zcounsel-Gen. Harris, and much of the way on her own resources, together with the long nervous strain, has left her in badly shattered health, but with undaunted purpose.

"My husband, jointly arrested with others," she declares, "was innocent. If there was conspiracy, he was not a party to it. The bolsheviki misconstrued his activities. As commercial attache it was his duty to ascertain Russian economic conditions for possible resumption of trade between the two countries.

And for this purpose, the ordinary channels of information having been closed, he maintained a corps of agents who reported to him. This the soviets believed was an espionage system; and on that -- though the bolshevik commissar Krylenko spoke in his defense - he was convicted by tribunal and condemned to death."

South Bend News-Times Sun, Mar 27, 1921 Page 9