Evening star., 1951-08-14
House Asks Ban
On Czech Trade
Avenge 0atis
Resolution Approved
By 1921 Vote Now
Goes to Senate

The House today approved a
resolution advocating immediGte =
severance of commercial relations
with Czechoslovakia as a protest
against the imurisonment of Will
liam NJ Oats, Associated Press
correspondent at Prague.
The roll-call vote on the resolu-
ton, which now goes to the Sen
ate, was 1862 to l. Earlier the
resolution had been approved by
standing vote of 231 to 0. The
single negative vote was cast by
Representative Wood, Republican,
of Idaho.
At the last moment, Represent
ative Armstrong. Republican, of
Missouri, softened his original
amendment, at the behest of some
Republicans as we'll as Democrats.
He struck out a paragraph which
would have requested the State
Department to evacuate all
Americans with a view to severing
both commercial and diplomatic
relations with Czechoslovakia If
Mr.. Oats were not released within
80 days.
/ Proposal Modified.
Mr.. Armstrong told newsmer
he had to modify his proposal be-
cause Il couldn't get support for
the entire proposal"
Some members, Mr.. Armstrong
said, feared that the original pro-
Iposal might further jeopardize Mr.
Oatis and other Americans still
in Czechoslovakia.
Mr.. Oats was sentenced to 10
years imprisonment recently on
an espionage charge.
The resolution refers to the
sham trial and unjust convic-
ton of Mr.. Oats and urges the
United States Government tt
take all possible action to bring
about his release"
The United States Government
has labelled the charges against
Mr.. Oats baselesS.
Won't Go to President.
Even if the Senate concurs, the
resolution will not have the bind
ing force of law, since it will not
go to the President for signature
1t will. however. represent the
sentiment of Congress that trade
with CZechoslovakia should stor
as long as Mr.. Oats is held pris-
oner.
! The desperate plight of Mr.
Oats under Soviet-planned in.
carceration and "inquisition" wa!
described to Congress yesterday
in cabled dispatches to member!
from Overseas Correspondent Ra,
Brock. He filed a dispatch from
Ankara, Turkey, based on report!
from a secret agent who slipped
through the borders from Prague
According to this report, Mr.
Oats was being subjected to beat.
ings, drugs and continued ques-
tioning in the hope of breaking hi!
will and making him agree to the
usual" Soviet-type confession.
The report said Mr.. Oats woulc
be killed within a matter o1
weeks" unless he is released soon
Placed In House Record.
The Brock statement was placed
in the House record yesterday by
Representative Armstrong. 1t also
was placed before the Senate yes.
terday by Senator Mccarthy, Re.
publican, of Wisconsin, who sale
he would like to see more actor
from the State Department on the
Oats case.
Mr.. Oats was prosecuted OF
charges of espionage and othel
anti-Soviet work, although his de-
tenders say he did nothing NOR,
than the usual work required O.
any American newspaperman.
The Brock report was sharpl,
: critical of the administration ane
Secretary of State Acheson fol
failure to free the correspondent
Mr.. Acheson was accused O.
"evading" questions. The White
House and congressman, Mr.
Brock wrote, were issuing "pious
futile denunciations.