Evening star., 1949-04-17
Czechs Free American
Woman in Move for
Better u. ). Relations
ky the Assceiofed Press

FhATOE, SZcCuUSiOFdkid, Apl IL
16.-The Czechoslovaks freed Miss
vlasta Vraz today in a move Of
ficially described as intended ito
better Observation-Disclosures re-
lations."
Nervous after a week In prison,
Miss vraz said she plans to leave
the country as soon as she can
close the Prague Office through
which she distributed more than
$4,000, 900 in American relief sup
plies for CZechoslovakia since 1945.
One of her first acts after her
release was to telephone an aunt
In Berwyn, Ill, Mrs. Augusta
Pseenka. II am safe and sound. I
am leaving Prague for home in
about two weeks"
The United States had protested
sharply against the secret arrest
of Miss Vraz last Saturday. de-
manded her release and asked to
be informed of the specific
charges, II any"
Linked to Revolt Plot.
Zdenek Fierlinger, acting for
eign minister, told American Am
bassador Joseph e. Jacobs today
that Miss Vraz had been accused
of completely with persons plot
ting against the Communist gov
eminent.
Miss Vraz, So, told a United
States consular representative in
prison after being held tncon1-
municado for three days that she
thought she was detained for an
investigation into the political ac-
tivities of others.
Released Internationally. she
went to the American Embassy.
Consular officials escorted her
home. Because of her nervous
ness, embassy personnel advised
her not to talk to interviewers.
She is free to leave when she
pleases. She had booked passage
before her arrest to return to her
home in Berwyn next month.
The food situation here has i'm
proved and relief contributions
from Czechs and Slovaks in the
United States have dwindled since
the Communists took over the
government in 1948.
Fierlinger told Mr.. Jacobs that
q formal answer to the American
note on the Vraz case will be de-
livered next week.
Will Answer Notes on GIs.
He indicated that the Czecho-
slovak government also will have
a formal answer to the latest series
Of notes asking for more informa-
ton on two American soldiers
who were sentenced to prison as
spies after they wandered across
the frontier from Germany. They
are Recruit Clarence r. Hill Of
jackson, Miss, sentenced to IL
years, and Recruit George r. Jones
Of Owensboro. KY, 10 years.
Fierlinger disclosed that Presi-
dent Klement Gottwald had re-
ceived a telegram from Repre-
sentative SABBATH, Democrat, Of
Illinois, who was born in Czecho-
slovakia, asking for the release OF
Miss Vraz. The acting foreiGn
minister said he knew Mr.. SABBATH
and indicated the telegram had
been partly the CAUSE for the apeed
with which she was freed
Some softening In the police at-
titude on Western power problems
In Czechoslovakia has been indi-
Gated.
This course comedies with the
fact a Czechoslovak trade delega-
ton is on the way to Washington
and that Czechoslovakia hopes to
resume trade talks with Britain by
May 80.
In Washington, Mr.. SABBATH told
q reporter he had been in touch
with the State Department and
Czech government officials in re-
gard to the case of Miss Vraz.
Naturally, I am pleased that
she has been released" the Con-
gresham said. "She Is a profess
sional welfare worker, and has
been for many years. I have
known her since she was little
girl"
He said he has known Miss Vraz'
family since he came to this coun-
A.,~x bio